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Indianapolis mother of slain 8-year-old gave differing accounts of shooting, documents say

Investigators found drugs, a single spent bullet and security video at the home in the northeast side of Indianapolis where 8-year-old Kendrielle Brye was fatally shot in the face on March 24.

What they didn't find, according to a probable-cause affidavit, was the truth.

Tiffany White, 38, the girl's mother, gave differing accounts of what happened that Sunday. Marion County prosecutors charged her last week with neglect, drug possession and illegal possession of a firearm.

The charges do not indicate that White shot her daughter, whose death is being investigated as a homicide. Court records don't list an attorney for White.

The girl's father, Kendalle Brye Sr., hasn't been seen since the day of the shooting, when he cut off an electronic monitor and drove off. Police still want to talk to him.

The shooting

Tiffany White

Kendrielle was shot in her home in the 5000 block of Culver Street, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed in support of charges against White.

After the shooting, White drove her daughter to an Indianapolis Fire Department station located less than a mile away at 5520 East 38th Street. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers responded to the station for a report of a person shot around 5:40 p.m.

The child was taken to Riley Hospital, where she was declared dead, the affidavit stated.

White's first account of the shooting was given to firefighters, according to the affidavit. She reportedly told them she was asleep with her husband inside the home when she heard a "pop, pop, pop." They both "jumped up" and found Kendrielle laying on the floor of her bedroom. When asked by firefighters about the weapon, White replied, "There is no gun," the affidavit stated.

A witness who was near the fire station went there to help White and her daughter. He told police that White said she thought her daughter was shot in a drive-by shooting, according to the affidavit.

At the IFD station, White told IMPD Detective Brian Lambert that she had been sitting in her car with her 3-year-old son when she heard gunshots, Lambert wrote in the affidavit. White then ran back into the home. She reportedly said the shots had come from a car or someone on the side of the home.

White later gave Lambert a more detailed account of the shooting. She said, per the affidavit, that she and Brye found Kendrielle shot in the bedroom. White screamed at Brye to call 911 and then drove the child to an Indianapolis Fire Department station, she reportedly told police.

Conflicting accounts

Court documents indicate that surveillance video contradicted White's story. Video shows White and her daughter going into the home and two other people arriving at the home and then leaving, Lambert wrote in the affidavit.

The video shows Brye walking out of the home with what appears to be a rifle and a handgun. He then crosses the street and puts the weapons into a trash bag.

Brye is also seen carrying his bleeding daughter into the backseat of a white Chrysler 300, Lambert wrote in the affidavit.

White, the affidavit said, is never seen running to the house from the car. According to court documents, surveillance video shows the opposite occurring. White leaves the home, get into the driver's seat of the Chrysler and drive away, per the affidavit.

A few minutes later, video shows Brye get in a car and drive away from the home with his son, according to the affidavit.

Investigators found cocaine and methamphetamine inside the home, according to court documents. They also recovered a fired bullet.

It's unclear who shot Kendrielle. No additional arrests have been announced in connection with the girl's death.

Call IndyStar reporter Vic Ryckaert at 317-444-2701. Follow him on Twitter: @VicRyc.

Contact IndyStar reporter Crystal Hill at 317-444-6094 or cnhill@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @crysnhill.