Case against 17-year-old accused in girlfriend’s death can move forward

Two days before Christmas, 17-year-old Kaytlyn Foster was in her bedroom with her boyfriend, then-16-year-old Romaire King.

She and her roommate lived at Macon’s Westminster Apartments on North Atwood Drive and dated two brothers from Warner Robins.

Just before 7 p.m., a gun fired in Foster’s room. Foster, hit in the head with a bullet, died two days later.

Details of Bibb County deputies’ case were discussed during a Thursday commitment hearing for King in Bibb County Magistrate Court. The purpose of the proceeding was for a judge to hear testimony about why King was arrested and to determine if there’s enough probable cause for the case to move forward to Superior Court.

King, who turned 17 earlier this month, and his brother, 19-year-old Felton King III, each are charged with murder in Foster’s death.

Bibb County sheriff’s detective Carlos Stokes testified that the King brothers had left, taking the gun with them, by the time deputies arrived at Foster’s apartment.

Foster’s roommate told authorities she and Felton King had been in her bedroom when they heard the gunshot, Stokes said.

Franklin J.Hogue, Romaire King’s lawyer, asked Stokes to describe any evidence authorities have that Romaire King shot his girlfriend on purpose, meaning to kill her.

The detective responded, saying there are photos of King pointing guns at Foster on another occasion and that he illegally had a gun while underage.

Then, Hogue asked Stokes, “How do you know it was not an accident? Two kids playing with a gun and she gets shot in the head. How do you know it’s not that?”

Stokes paused and said, “I don’t accidentally point my gun at anybody.”

Hogue tried to press further, but before Stokes answered further, the magistrate ruled that the case can proceed.

Speaking after the hearing, Hogue said he plans to file a motion requesting that a bond be set for Romaire King, who previously had been held at a youth detention center, but was moved to the county jail on his 17th birthday.

Because he was arrested more than 90 days ago and no indictment has been filed in the case, King is entitled to bond, Hogue said.

Both brothers have been in custody since Dec. 26.

Romaire King’s brother, Felton King, is being held at the county jail on $10,000 bond, he said.

The older brother was out on bond on aggravated assault and gang charges related to a Houston County shooting at the time of the shooting.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Case against 17-year-old accused in girlfriend’s death can move forward."