In Baltimore County District Court 16-year-old Keith James charged as an adult appears virtually

"We need to make sure we know who our kids are associating with." Those are the words spoken by Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough after a Gwynn Oak mother discovered her two children shot to death inside their own home. Keith Maurice James, 16, has since been arrested and charged for the July 7 murders of Giovanna Myrie, 15, and her 9-year-old brother, Steve Allen. Their mother told police she left home for work at approximately 7am, and last spoke to Giovanna via text message around 4 that afternoon. Upon returning home after 7pm, is when both children were found dead. Giovanna was shot multiple times in her bed, while Steve was left lying near the hallway. A witness later told detectives that Giovanna had recently started talking to Keith. The two reportedly met up at Giovanna's house on July 4th, at which time they chatted with the witness over FaceTime. According to charging documents, the witness recalled seeing Keith holding a gun while in bed with Giovanna. At some point during the conversation the witness heard Keith tell Giovanna, he'd have to kill her if she "messed around with any other guys."