READ MORE: Police investigation: Dispute over $10 leads to deadly Middletown shooting
Because of the teen’s age and the seriousness of the crime, the case is a mandatory bind over to adult court if the judge finde probable cause. The teen has a previous juvenile record dating back to 2018 for misdemeanor assault, aggravated menacing, disorderly conduct and a probation violation in September 2019, according to court records.
Dhameer Haamid Scott, 24, was arrested shortly after Booker’s shooting and charged with murder. But last week the charge against Scott was amended to complicity to murder in Middletown Municipal Court. Scott waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and his case was sent directly to a grand jury for consideration.
After his arrest, Scott told police that the teen actually shot Booker.
Because of the new charge, Scott’s bond was lowered from $500,000 to $100,000 by Judge James Sherron. On Thursday, Scott remained housed in the Butler County Jail.
Detectives say the teen confessed to shooting Booker, 36, at a Yankee Road residence in what police say was a dispute over $10.
MORE: Charged changed for man accused in fatal Middletown shooting; bond lowered
Police were called at 7:44 p.m. on May 11 to the 1400 block of Yankee Road, where they found Booker seriously injured from gunfire. He was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.
Booker’s mother called 911 and told dispatchers that Scott shot Booker. Police said on May 14 that Booker took $10 from a shelf in the home his mother shared with Scott’s father, which started the argument that led to the shooting.
Further investigation led police to request the juvenile take a lie detector test, which he failed, police said.
Court documents filed by Middletown Detective Steve Winters say a driver transported Scott and the teen to the residence after Scott received a call from his father. They both entered the residence and “Scott pointed a loaded handgun towards the face of Booker.”
Booker, Scott and the teen were forced out of the house and a physical altercation continued on the porch with Booker being fatally shot.
During the physical altercation “Scott passed the handgun off to the juvenile,” Winters said in the court document.
After the shooting Scott and the teen were driven to Cincinnati and were then driven by a family member to the Sure Stay Hotel in Kentucky, according to police.
While at the hotel, police say Scott attempted to disguise the juvenile’s appearance by cutting his hair and attempted to dispose of the handgun used in the homicide.
About the Author
