Autopsy report offers details into shooting of 5-year-old girl killed in Durham
The autopsy of a 5-year-old girl who was shot and killed in Durham on July 5, reveals new details of her homicide.
Khloe Fennell was at home in the care of 15-year-old cousin and babysitter Destiny Sidberry when Brian Deshan Luster, 42, arrived at the home and allegedly fired at both of them.
The autopsy report released by the North Carolina Medical Examiner on Friday shows Fennell was shot five times and that Sidberry was also shot.
An attached investigation in the report details that Luster had called 911 to report that he was suffering from an overdose.
The call dropped after dispatchers heard him arguing with Sidberry, who is the cousin of both Fennell and Luster. Officers responded to the scene and found Luster choking Sidberry.
Sidberry screamed that she had been shot, the report says. Luster charged at an officer and was “wrestled to the ground” before being arrested.
Durham County EMS responders arrived and transported Sidberry and Fennell to Duke University Medical Center.
Cousin attempts to shield child
The shooting occurred following an argument between Luster and Sidberry, according to the report. He allegedly retrieved a 9mm handgun belonging to Fennell’s mother and fired at them.
Sidberry pushed another 18-month-old relative into a closet during the shooting and used her body to attempt to shield Fennell from the bullets, the report states.
Sidberry was shot seven times, and is still recovering in the hospital, according to ABC11.
Family members are calling her actions heroic for trying to save Fennell’s life.
Luster was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon.
He is the first cousin of Brittany Dash, the mother of the infant who was killed.
This story was originally published August 4, 2023 at 2:10 PM.
