WILKES-BARRE -- Wilkes-Barre Police charged 19-year-old Khalil Brathwaite with criminal homicide. Newswatch 16 was at his arraignment, where police accused him of shooting Jason Canty in the head late Saturday night near the intersection of Carey Avenue and New Alexander Street in Wilkes-Barre.
“We're just happy we made a fast arrest on this to get another individual off the street that has harmed another individual and has taken his life,” said Stephanie Salavantis, Luzerne County D.A., adding she doesn't yet know the motive for the shooting, but says the teenager surrendered to police.
“I’m assuming he's trying to do the right thing, but that would just be a guess,” she said.
“In court papers, a witness describes to police seeing the victim talking to the suspect, when out of nowhere, the suspect fires several shots at the victim, including one to his head.”
“They knew each other. This was not a random event,” Salavantis said.
Newswatch 16 was there as the victim's family drove away from the Wilkes-Barre Police Department after meeting with detectives. They wouldn't talk on camera but describe Canty as a loving father and committed husband. As for Brathwaite, he's in Luzerne County jail without bail.