Videographer Pleads In Fatal Detroit Police Raid

DETROIT (WWJ) - A videographer for a reality show about homicide investigators has accepted a plea deal in connection with the police raid shooting death of a 7-year-old girl.

Allison Howard, of A&E network's "The First 48," was accused of lying to police and withholding video tape she shot during the chaotic 2010 Detroit police raid during which Aiyana Stanley-Jones was killed while asleep on a couch.

Howard was part of a TV crew that tagged along with Detroit Police Special Response Team in May, 2010, when they raided Aiyana's duplex home in search of a murder suspect.

Police officer Joseph Weekley called the shooting accidental, saying he fired when Aiyana's grandmother reached for his submachine after the team threw a "flash bang" grenade and entered the home. The grandmother denies she touched the gun — and another police officer testified that there was no struggle over the weapon.

Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller said, in exchange for Howard's plea, a perjury charged will be dropped and she will be sentenced to up to two years probation and 200 hours of community service.  Howard will also be ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.

Meantime, Weekley is expected to face a second manslaughter trial after the first resulted in a hung jury. A pre-trial hearing for Weekley is set for June 25.

After Aiyana's death, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing banned reality TV crews from going out with police.

MORE:  Mistrial In Case Of Girl Killed In Detroit Police Raid