An 18-year-old from Missouri has received a 20-year prison sentence after shooting and killing an 11-year-old girl who was inside her home, according to court records. The tragic incident occurred when the teen, Re’Mori Roath, used Snapchat to arrange a marijuana purchase at the girl’s residence, leading to a violent encounter that left the young victim, Kourtney Freeman, fatally wounded in front of her family.

Jackson County prosecutors detailed the harrowing attack in a sentencing memorandum, describing how several family members were trapped inside the home as gunfire erupted. Roath, who admitted to second-degree murder, was sentenced on Monday for the fatal shooting that took place in April 2024.

“Family members were forced to witness the horrific scene of an 11-year-old being shot and killed right in front of them,” the prosecutors noted. “Every time they return to their home or see reminders of Kourtney, they are faced with the trauma and loss. Her laughter and tears are now only memories.”

The details of the crime are outlined in a probable cause affidavit, which states that Roath, charged as an adult, used Snapchat to set up the meeting for the marijuana transaction with someone at the residence. According to the affidavit, a female at the home was in contact with an unknown individual through Snapchat about selling marijuana.

“The individual indicated they were outside in a white vehicle,” the affidavit reveals, adding that Kourtney’s family was initially on the porch. “After the others went inside, gunfire erupted through the front storm door, striking Kourtney who was inside.” The attack left the family devastated and in shock, forced to relive the tragedy each time they return home.

Police were told by residents that there was a “rapid succession of gunfire, followed by an approximately 9 second pause, then another single shot could be heard,” per the affidavit. The glass storm door was shattered with glass on the front porch and into the interior of the home, according to cops.

“Pools of apparent blood were located inside the front door of the residence and in the dining room, on the front porch, down the stairs and onto the sidewalk near the street,” the affidavit says. “Detectives observed one spent 9 mm casing on the front porch, and 11 additional spent 9 mm casings around the yard and leading up to the front porch.”

Kourtney’s mother, Samantha Freeman, spoke to local ABC affiliate KMBC after her daughter’s murder, saying, “She was a baby. She didn’t even get a chance to do anything to be whoever she wanted to be.”

Police used surveillance footage, witness testimony, cellphone data and DNA evidence to track Roath down and arrest him. A Glock 17 9 mm handgun and the same shell casings found at the murder scene were discovered in his bedroom during an execution of a search warrant, cops reported.

Roath was arrested at school in May 2024 and charged with murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. He told Kourtney’s family at his sentencing that he was sorry about what happened and called the shooting a “sad circumstance” that “shouldn’t have happened like that,” according to local CBS affiliate KCTV.

“I know 20 years is a long time, but not long enough for me,” Kourtney’s sister, Kaliah Washington, told KCTV after the sentencing hearing. “I got a little closure from it. Not enough.”