Suspect charged in slaying of Frayser girl, 11

An ongoing dispute between an 11-year-old girl's adult relative and another man led to her death in a drive-by shooting, Memphis Police said Tuesday.
Jacob Mason, 32, has been charged with second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault in the death of Kentaria Traylor on Friday.

She was sitting inside her Frayser home in the 2100 block of Burnham when a bullet pierced a window and struck her in the neck. Kentaria was taken to Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, where she later died.

Witnesses told police that after hearing gun shots, they saw a maroon sport-utility vehicle drive off fast.

Police said Mason became a suspect after investigators received information that he and Bryant Williamson had been involved in an ongoing dispute.

Bryant Williamson is Kentaria's uncle, said Cathy Williamson, the child's great-aunt.

Friday afternoon at 1:30, Old Allen Station police officers had responded to a "shots fired" call at Pamela and University streets and arrested Bryant Williamson and Sean McCroy. Two guns were seized and both men were charged with unlawful possession of a weapon.

As investigators interviewed witnesses following Kentaria's death, they determined that the drive-by shooting at 5 p.m. on Friday may have stemmed from the confrontation earlier in the afternoon. Mason was seen then in a maroon Dodge Durango with temporary tags.

Marcus Williamson, Kentaria's uncle and the brother of Bryant Williamson, said justice has been served with Mason's arrest.

"They should give him the death penalty," he said. "She had nothing to do (with the dispute). Now she won't be able to open her Christmas presents because of something stupid."

Kentaria was a fifth-grader at Denver Elementary School, where she was an honor-roll student. She was a member of Promise Land Church.

She was the daughter of Kanisha Williamson and Jamel Traylor.

The shooting came as a surprise to neighbors, who described their street as quiet and safe.

Next-door neighbor Carolyn Isom said she's relieved that police have made an arrest.

"It's good that they found him," Isom said.

Cathy Williamson said Tuesday afternoon that she had been praying that police would make an arrest in Kentaria's death.

"It's beautiful and good," she said.

"Catching him was a big thing and now I have to make sure (her mother) is OK and that she's able to get through this," Williamson said. "That was her family and her heart."

-- Matt Woo: 529-6453

Funeral arrangements

A memorial service will occur at noon Saturday at Promise Land Church, 3430 Overton Crossing. M.J. Edwards Funeral Home has charge.