4 year old Miami girl shot while sitting in car

A 4 year old Miami girl was shot and died while sitting in the family car. From an article:

 A 4-year-old girl was fatally shot while she sat in a car outside her grandfather's Miami home, and now detectives are trying to determine if another child who was in the vehicle pulled the trigger, police said Sunday.

The children were waiting in a white Mercedes-Benz on Saturday evening as an adult stood nearby outside in a neighborhood on the northern edge of Miami-Dade County.

Rahquel Carr was shot in the upper body with a handgun believed to have been fired from inside the vehicle, Miami-Dade Police Detective Roy Rutland said. The owner of the weapon and the car was not present and has not been charged.

At least two other children were in the vehicle at the time, all believed to have been younger than 10, Rutland said. Investigators were speaking with those children, which Rutland said was a delicate process because of their age.

“We are interviewing those kids and we're trying to ascertain if one of the other children shot the kid,” he said. (...) 

Armando Alvarado, 58, was sitting inside his home three doors down when he heard children screaming. He went outside and saw a woman crying for help on her cell phone.

“She was crying desperately,” he said.

Police arrived within a minute, and a rescuer carried the girl into an ambulance, he said. Her limbs were limp and blood was on her face. The girl died a short time later after being airlifted to a hospital.

Rahquel's grandfather also was hospitalized because he was overcome with emotion. The two were very close, and he would sometimes watch the girl while she rode her bike outside.

“The grandfather just loved her so much,” said Michael Hardaway, 55, who lives next door. “He couldn't take it.”

It appears that this shooting happened as a result of access to a gun by a child. Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

9-year old Orlando boy finds cop's loaded gun and fires it into wall of home

A 9-year old boy was with his mom when they visited the apartment of her boyfriend for the first time, and Orlando, Florida police officer.  That's when the boy found a loaded, unsecured gun in the officer's bedroom and fired it, hitting a wall.

Luckily no one was injured.

From an article:

A 9-year-old boy looking for an Xbox game system found an Orlando Police officer's gun instead and accidentally discharged a round into the wall of an apartment late Monday, police said. 

The child's mother, Crystal Ramer, heard a loud bang like a pan dropping just before 11 p.m. in the upstairs room of her boyfriend Orlando Police Officer Thomas O'Day's apartment and ran upstairs to investigate, according to an incident report. 

Ramer's son ran downstairs claiming nothing had happened but he eventually confessed to firing O'Day's Diamondback .380-caliber handgun after finding it inside the closet of the master bedroom. 

O'Day checked on his neighbors to make sure no one was injured and called his supervisor to report the incident. Investigators said the bullet did not penetrate the wall. 

The report does not say whether the gun was secured in any safe or box. 

Officers allowed O'Day, who was not charged with any crimes, to keep the firearm after they determined it was an accident and the boy did not have permission to be in the bedroom. 

Ramer's children do not live at the officer's home and it was their first time visiting, the report said.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

10-year old North Carolina boy shot and killed by father cleaning gun

Christopher Stanlane, Jr., age 10

10-year old Christopher Stanlane, Jr., was watching TV while his father, Christopher Stanlane, Sr.,
sat behind him on the couch, cleaning his gun, in their Fairmont, North Carolina home.  That's when his father uninentionally discharged the weapon, striking the boy in the back of the head and killing him.

No charges have been filed.

From an article:

Robeson County deputies say 34-year-old Christopher Stanlane was on the couch in his Fairmont home wiping down the gun around 4 p.m. Sunday when it fired. 

Investigators say the boy was sitting in front of his father watching television and was struck in the head. Paramedic declared him dead at the home. 

No charges have been filed, and deputies are still investigating the shooting.

According to another article, the gun was a 12-gauge shotgun:

Christopher Stanlane Sr., 34, was cleaning his 12-gauge shotgun while sitting on the couch in the family's home, Thompson said. 

Stanlane had the butt of the gun sitting on the floor, Thompson said. 

The younger Stanlane was sitting on the floor, watching television, in front of his father, Thompson said. 

"He (Stanlane Sr.) said he was wiping the side of the gun down and the gun went off and shot the son in the head," Thompson said. 

Stanlane's wife was in another room and called 911, Thompson said.

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2-year old Alabama boy shot and killed, mother wounded

A 2-year old boy, Nazario Boykins, and his mother were shot by a suspect in Birmingham, Alabama.  The boy later died at the hospital.

The shooter was the boy's uncle, and the woman's brother, Andre Boykins Jr., 24.

From an article:

A 2-year-old child has died following a midnight shooting in Birmingham, according to the Birmingham Police Department. 

A woman and her son, Nazario Boykins, were found shot at 913 8^th Avenue West just after midnight Saturday, and both were transported to UAB Hospital with serious injuries. 

Birmingham police spokesman Sgt. Johnny Williams Jr. said the 2-year-old child was transferred to Children's of Alabama. The child died at 2:56 p.m., and police are launching a homicide investigation. 

The suspect, Andre Boykins Jr., 24, of Birmingham, is the brother of the woman who was shot. Prattville police officers arrested Boykins on attempted murder charges. Investigators anticipate obtaining a murder warrant for the death of the child. 

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3-year old New Orleans boy unintentionally shot in hand by adult

37-year old Terrance Robinson said he was sitting on his porch in New Orleans, Louisiana, when he was playing with a loaded handgun he said he had found in his neighborhood.

That's when a 3-year old boy, the son of a friend of his, came up and tugged on the gun, according to Robinson, which led to a discharge of the gun, hitting the boy in the hand.

Robinson is a convicted felon.

From an article:

In a Saturday news release, the NOPD said Robinson confessed to the accidental shooting at his home in the 6000 block of Kuebel Drive in eastern New Orleans. 

Robinson said he had been sitting on his front porch and playing with the loaded pistol, which he said he found in the neighborhood.  

The boy, the son of friends of Robinson's, pulled at the pistol, which caused the gun to go off and strike the child in his right hand, police said. The toddler's parents, who were inside the house, ran outside after hearing the shot. They then took their son to the hospital.  

Police were notified at about 6 p.m. that the boy had a gunshot wound to his hand. 

When officers arrived at the Kuebel Drive address 30 minutes after the shooting, Robinson was still in possession of the gun, police said. 

While his wound is not life-threatening, the boy remained at the hospital on Saturday, according to the NOPD release.

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2-year old boy shot and killed and mother injured by father, who killed himself

In Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, Hollie Jo Ayers brought her 2-year old son to the residence of the boy's father, Kenneth Robert Ayers, 52, for a custody exchange when the two got into a fight.  

The father then pulled out a gun and shot his ex-wife multiple times, then shot and killed the boy, before shooting the woman once more in the face and shooting at his own mother, missing.  He then drove to a rural area with the boy's body and then shot and killed himself.

Kenneth Ayers had previously had a restraining order against him for domestic violence against his wife, yet was still able to be armed.

From an article:

Police said the incident occurred around 8:45 a.m. when Hollie Jo Ayers brought the 2-year-old to a residence on Manor Hill Road in Barree Township, Huntingdon County. 

A physical altercation occurred between Kenneth Ayers and Hollie Jo Ayers outside the home. During the fight, Kenneth Ayers shot Hollie Jo Ayers, police said, in the right arm and in both legs before he shot and killed his son. 

Police said Kenneth Ayers then placed the child’s body in the back of his vehicle. 

When Hollie Jo Ayers attempted to retrieve the child’s body, Kenneth Ayers then shot her in the face, according to police. He then shot at his mother, Mary Ayers, missing her. 

State College police said they were alerted to be available for assistance when Ayers then fled to Stormstown. 

State police said Ayers was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a wooded area adjacent to state Route 550 in Warriors Mark Township. 

State College police Lt. Mark Argiro said police had arrested Ayers in 2010 for violating an order of protection against his wife after a domestic incident. 

Police said Hollie Jo Ayers was transported to a hospital for treatment Saturday. 

Neither Altoona Regional nor Mount Nittany Medical Center had her listed as a patient.

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2013/03/24/3551549/man-in-huntingdon-county-shooting.html#storylink=cpy

State College police Lt. Mark Argiro said police had arrested Ayers in 2010 for violating an order of protection against his wife after a domestic incident.

Police said Hollie Jo Ayers was transported to a hospital for treatment Saturday. Neither Altoona Regional nor Mount Nittany Medical Center had her listed as a patient.

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2013/03/24/3551549/man-in-huntingdon-county-shooting.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2013/03/24/3551549/man-in-huntingdon-county-shooting.html#storylink=cpy

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4-year old Florida boy finds loaded gun and shoots self in head

A 4-year old boy was at his Orlando, Florida home with two others (an adult and a juvenile aung) when he found a loaded, unsecured gun.  He then discharged the gun, hitting himself in the head.

He is in critical condition.

From an article and video:

The child was shot around 9:30 a.m. at the Los Roble Condos off Silver Star Road.  

The child was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital and was listed in critical but stable condition. 

A 911 caller reported the shooting, and Fire Rescue personnel began "rescue efforts," according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. 

Deputies said two others, including an aunt, were in the home at the time of the shooting.  The boy's mother, however, was at work, deputies said. 

The Department of Children and Families is now involved in the investigation. 

It's not yet known how the shooting unfolded, and an investigation is ongoing.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

16-year old Florida boy unintentionally shoots and kills his 12-year old brother

A 16-year old boy and his 12-year old brother were home alone in Orlando, Florida, when the older brother heard noises.  He called out, but there was no answer.  He got the family gun and, when he saw a figure, he fired.

The figure was his younger brother, who died from the wound.

From an article and video:

The midday incident in Orlando was an accident, police said. The 16-year-old and younger brother were home alone when the older boy heard noises, feared an intruder and shot and killed his brother. Realizing the mistake, the boy called 911. 

“He heard some noises and he called out for his brother and he didn’t answer and so then his brother startled him,” Orlando Police Department Detective Mike Moreschi told WFTV-TV. 

Police don’t yet know how the boy got his hands on the legally owned gun. The unnamed 16-year-old hasn’t been identified and has not been charged in the killing. The states attorney’s office will review the case.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

4-year old Houston boy shoots self to death with drug dealing father's gun

Jaiden Pratt, age 4

Marquiez Deshon Pratt, age 20, was asleep on the sofa when his four year old son, Jaiden, found his father's loaded, stolen handgun and shot himself to death with it.  

When police responded, the father tried to escape but was captured.  Investigation of the apartment revealed drugs and drug dealing equipment.

From an article:

Marquiez Deshon Pratt, 20, had his son Jaiden for the weekend when the boy shot himself on Sunday. The boy woke up and picked up his father’s gun, which was lying nearby, and accidentally fired it into his stomach, according to police. 

When investigators arrived at the scene they found a distraught Pratt carrying his son outside of his apartment. Pratt handed the boy over, and he ran back inside, police said. Officers performed CPR on Jaiden, while other officers pursued Pratt into the apartment, according to police. 

Inside the apartment on Houston’s north side, police said they found marijuana and crack cocaine, along with scales and other items used to sell drugs. 

Pratt was arrested and charged with injury to a child by omission and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. 

Police said that the weapon Jaiden shot himself with was a .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol that was taken in a 2011 burglary.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

8th grader brings loaded gun to Toledo, Ohio school

A 15-year old 8th grade boy was found with a loaded .38 handgun in school, in Toledo, Ohio.

The boy admitted buying the gun on the street from someone he doesn't know, no background check required.

From an article and video:

Toledo police have arrested a student with a loaded gun at Raymer Elementary on Nevada Ave. 

Police say the 15-year-old student was arrested at dismissal around 3:15 Friday afternoon.
School administrators say the principal was looking for a coat in a coat room. She moved a student's coat and found a loaded .380 handgun. 

School leaders say no one was threatened with the weapon, and it was never shown in school.
Police say the student admitted to purchasing the weapon from someone on the street.  

The 8th grader was arrested and taken to the Lucas County Juvenile Detention Center. He now faces charges, including carrying a concealed weapon, underage purchase of a firearm, and conveyance of a deadly weapon in a school zone. 

The school says they called all the parents at Raymer Elementary to let them know about the incident.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Baby boy shot in head and killed, mother injured, by two boys in Georgia

(Updated. See below)

Antonio West, age 13 months

A mother was walking her baby in a stroller, in Brunswick, Georgia, when she said that two boys, ages 10-15 years old, tried to rob her at gunpoint.  They then shot the baby in the head, killing him, and shot the woman in the leg, before fleeing.  The victim, age 13 months, was named Antonio West.

From an article:

The mother, Sherry West, told WAWS-TV that two boys approached her and demanded money Thursday morning while she was walking near her home in Brunswick, about 80 miles south of Savannah. 

West said she insisted she didn't have any money and tried to protect her son, Antonio, before one of the boys opened fire. 

"I put my arms over my baby and he shoves me, and then he shot my baby right in the head," West said. 

West was shot in the leg.  ... 

Police spokesman Todd Rhodes gave few details about the investigation Friday, but said no weapon has been found and that investigators were checking school records for leads. 

Several people in the neighborhood called 911 after they heard the gunshots fired, but Rhodes said investigators believed that the mother was the only witness to what happened. Rhodes described the neighborhood as safe. 

"Understand this: There is no clear motive right now," he said. 

He urged anyone with information to call Brunswick police. There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. 

Officers from a SWAT team checked vacant houses as investigators tried to find possible witnesses. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources provided a helicopter for the search. 

A sketch artist from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was being sent to Brunswick.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Shooter De'Marquis Elkins, age 17

UPDATE:  The two boys have been arrested, ages 14 (revised to 15, see next update) and 17.  From an article:

Seventeen-year-old De'Marquis Elkins is charged as an adult with first-degree murder, along with a 14-year-old who was not identified because he is a juvenile, Police Chief Tobe Green said. 

Police announced the arrest Friday afternoon after combing school records and canvassing neighborhoods searching for the pair. The chief said the motive of the "horrendous act" was still under investigation and the weapon had not been found. 

The mother, Sherry West, wept Friday while she told The Associated Press that she

pleaded with the gunman and a younger accomplice who approached her Thursday morning while she walked near their home in coastal Brunswick. 

Dominique Lang, age 15

"He asked me for money and I said I didn't have it," she said. "When you have a baby, you spend all your money on babies. They're expensive. And he kept asking and I just said 'I don't have it.' And he said, 'Do you want me to kill your baby?' And I said, 'No, don't kill my baby!'" 

West said the gunman fired four shots, the first into the ground. West didn't see a shell casing ejected and she assumed the gun wasn't real. 

Then he fired at her head and the bullet grazed her left ear — she has a small scab and bruising there. He fired again and shot her in the left leg above the knee. "I didn't know I was hurt." 

"The boy proceeded to go around to the stroller and he shot my baby in the face," she said. 

"And then he just shoved me when I started screaming and he ran down London Street with the little boy."  ....

It's not the mother's first loss of a child to violence. Sherry West said her 18-year-old son, Shaun Glassey, was killed in New Jersey in 2008. She still has a newspaper clipping from the time. 

The articles don't say how the boys got the gun or ammo.

UPDATE (3/25/13):  The other boy, who is actually 15 years old, pleaded not-guilty, according to a CNN article:

Wearing an orange jumpsuit, his hands and feet shackled, the 15-year-old listened as Glynn County Judge Timothy Barton read his Miranda rights. Previously, the boy's age was reported as 14. 

Barton didn't indicate if the teen would be charged as a juvenile or adult, and the teen did not enter a plea. His name is not being released because he is a minor. 

Asked if the teen had any questions, he told the judge, "No sir." ... 

The boy's father has also been distraught, West said. 

Asked about the person who shot her son, Antonio, West stated: "I hate you and I don't forgive you. 

"You killed an innocent human life," she said. "I hope you die for it." ... 

West said she put Antonio in a stroller Thursday because it was good exercise for her heart, adding that she was disabled from a car accident. 

"I just took a walk with my baby," she said. "I can't believe that this would happen, and I left early in the morning. I thought, you know, that there would be less people on the road and I wouldn't be in anybody's way walking down that road.

UPDATE (4/18/13):  The 15-year old is identified as Dominque Lang.  Both of the teens accused of the robbery and shooting are pleading not guilty.  From the article:

Police arrested both teenagers within a day of the shooting. Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering has said information from Elkins' mother and older sister helped lead investigators to a small saltwater pond where they recovered a .22-caliber handgun suspected of being used in the slaying. 

Elkins has also been charged in a second shooting and robbery attempt 10 days before the baby was killed. An indictment says Elkins pointed a gun at Wilfredo Calix-Flores while demanding his cellphone and wallet, then shot the man in the arm with the same caliber gun used to kill the baby.

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8th-Grade Michigan boy brings gun to school and commits suicide

An 8th-grade boy brought a gun to his school, Davidson Middle School, in Southgate, Michigan, went into the bathroom, and shot himself to death.

A note was left, but authorities haven't released what it said.

From an article:

Davidson Middle School officials put the school on lockdown and contacted parents around 9:15 a.m. to pick up their children, saying at first that the school had a "police situation." WXYZ officials said that some children looked "visibly upset" when exiting the school. 

According to WDIV, Southgate Schools Superintendent William Grusecki said the boy did leave a note.

From a related article:

Students were put in the gym and auditorium and parents were called to come pick up their students at about 9 a.m. The school also arranged for transportation for students to get home. 

"I feel so horrible for the family of the child. I can't even imagine," said parent Sherri Zacharski
Grusecki said out of respect for the family, the boy's name wouldn't be released. But he said the boy was known as a good student, somewhat popular and had never gone to school officials with any problems he was experiencing. 

School was canceled for the day Thursday and Friday. Counselors are being provided for the community, some coming from surrounding districts. .... 

When asked about how a gun got into the school, Grusecki said there are no metal detectors in the building. He said school officials will review and look into what they can do in the future. 

Director of Public Safety Thomas Coombs said investigators are still looking into who owned the gun. He couldn't answer whether any charges would be filed.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

17-year old Chicago boy shoots self in groin

A 17-year old boy in Chicago, Illinois, was cruising with some friends when a loaded gun he had in his lap discharged, hitting him in the groin.  At first he claimed he had been shot by others, but later confessed to unintentionally shooting himself.

The boy had gang affiliations.

From an article:

A 17-year-old boy suffered a gunshot wound Friday night when the gun he was handling accidentally went off and struck him in the groin as he cruised on the Northwest Side with his female friends. 

The boy, who has gang affiliations, first told officers that he was shot by two masked men who jumped out of a van in the 3300 block of North Harlem Avenue, police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli said. 

But Area North detectives canvassed the area, and could come up with no evidence or witnesses to such an incident. “They spoke to him and he changed his account repeatedly,” Mirabelli said. “Eventually he admitted the truth,” and told detectives that “he accidentally discharged the firearm.” 

The weapon had accidentally went off as he handled the gun, injuring the teenage Elmwood Park resident, who was riding in a vehicle with some female acquaintances around Harlem and Belmont avenues, Mirabelli said. 

The gun discharged in his lap and he suffered a gunshot wound to the left groin area, Mirabelli said. 

The boy was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where his condition was stable, police said. 

It was not yet known as of Saturday morning what charges, if any, the boy faces.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

17-year old Virginia boy shot and killed when entering wrong home

A 17-year old boy had been out drinking with friends, in Loundoun County, Virginia, when his friends dropped him off in his neighborhood, where he had lived for only a year or less.

But instead of going to his home, he instead entered the home of a neighbor, and apparently tried to go upstairs.

The homeowner heard him, got his gun, and shot the boy to death.  The boy was unarmed, and apparently gave no struggle beforehand.  

From an article:

The teenager had been drinking, and his friends drove him to his home in Sterling at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, law enforcement officials said. But instead of walking into his house on the quiet cul-de-sac, they said, the teen entered a similar-looking red brick home in the same block. 

Inside, the startled homeowner confronted the teen, authorities said, before shooting and killing him. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office described the shooting as a homeowner killing an unknown intruder, although officials released few details about the shooting. 

Sheriff’s officials declined to release the name of the teen or the homeowner. No criminal charges have been filed. 

It is unclear why the teen went into the wrong home, how he got inside or what kind of exchange he had with the homeowner. Law enforcement officials said that they believe the teenager did not have a gun and that it is possible he entered the home through a rear window, although they were still investigating. It was unclear whether the homeowner and the intruder knew each other; neighbors said the teen was relatively new to the neighborhood.

The article doesn't mention how the boy got into the home or whether the homeowner gave any warning.

14-year old girl shot and wounded while walking home from school

A 14-year old girl was walking home from school with two friends, in Burien, Washington, just south of Seattle.  That's when a shot was fired, hitting and wounding her.

No motive or suspect has been determined.

From an article and news video:

A 14-year-old girl is recovering after she was shot while walking home from school in Burien on Monday.  

The girl was walking with two boys when the shooting, which appeared to be random, happened along 21st Avenue Southwest in Burien Near Saint Francis of Assisi school.
The girl was calm and able to talk about what happened. 

The kids remember seeing a red car nearby, but police say there is no confirmation that the shot came from that car. 

The school sent parents a message informing them that the girl was shot with a bullet or a pellet that entered the side of her torso. 

The school is cautioning parents to make sure their kids are driven to and from school until they have more information.

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11-year old Massachusetts girl shot and injured while waiting to buy shoes

An 11-year old girl was in line outside a shoe store in Springfield, Massachusetts, waiting to buy a pair of the highly sought-after new Air Jordan shoes.

A dispute broke out between two male teens or young adults in line with her when one of the boys tried to cut into line.  One of them pulled out a gun and fired it, hitting the girl unintentionally, in her leg.

She is expected to recover.  The shooter escaped.  It isn't known if the intended victim was hit.  It is thought there were gang ties associated between the shooter and intended victim.

From an article:

The mayor said an "orderly line" had formed outside a local shoe store – Expressions at the Walmart plaza on Boston Road – before the shop had opened for business Saturday morning. But a pair of individuals with possible gang ties "tried to cut the line," sparking a violent episode in which the girl, an innocent bystander, was shot and wounded, he said. 

"They tried to jump the line," said Sarno, who received a police briefing on the incident. "It just boggles my mind, the uncivilized nature of these unsavory individuals who could have taken the life of an 11-year-old girl." .... 

Authorities said the 11-year-old girl was standing in a line of people waiting to buy new Air Jordan sneakers at Expressions, 1067 Boston Road, a shoe store located at the Walmart plaza. She was outside MadRag, a clothing shop two stores away from Expressions, when two males in their late teens or early twenties got into verbal dispute that quickly turned physical. 

One male pulled out a handgun and reportedly pistol-whipped the other before opening fire on him. It's unknown if the man who was shot at was struck, but the girl was hit in the leg, police said. "We believe she was an innocent victim," detective Sgt. Kenneth J. Murray said. 

Witnesses described the shooter as a black male wearing a camouflage jacket. Murray said police found the jacket nearby and used it to attempt to track the suspect with K-9 units. State police conducted an aerial search with a helicopter, but authorities were unable to locate the gunman. "We were unsuccessful ... he had either been picked up by a car or previously passed through that area," Murray said. 

Saturday marked the national release of the Air Jordan 13 Retro "He Got Game" model, which retails for about $170, as well as the Air Jordan 13 GS, a grey-and-pink sneaker for girls that sells for around $115. 

Bullets don't know when to stop.

17-year old Delaware boy shot in both legs

A 17-year old boy in Wilmington, Delaware, was taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds to both legs, but has been uncooperative.

From an article:

[Cpl. Mark Ivey] said Christiana Hospital contacted officers about a shooting victim who was seeking treatment. The Wilmington boy had gunshot wounds to both legs and had been taken by an acquaintance to the hospital, where he was uncooperative with investigative efforts, Ivey said. Ivey said he is listed in stable condition.

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Urban teens and the proliferation of illegal guns

An article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune explores the proliferation of illegal guns in urban neighborhoods in Minnesota and all over the country. Teens in these neighborhoods can easily access guns and feel as if they need them for survival. From the article:

Minneapolis had recorded another senseless murder: a case of two teenagers, shooter and victim, both swept away in the river of guns flowing through poor urban neighborhoods in the Twin Cities and across the country, guns that constantly swap hands, guns from a shadowy marketplace that’s hard for investigators to shut down, guns that are cheap, plentiful and ever more deadly. 

“Children know that guns are easily available, that they’re getting into the wrong hands, and no one is really addressing that issue,” said Andre Dukes, assistant pastor at Shiloh Temple International Ministries and family academy director of the Northside Achievement Zone.

As they struggle to prevent more teen funerals and prison terms, Dukes and other community leaders say the raging debate over gun control must include the bloodshed in the nation’s cities being stoked by a flourishing, illicit gun trade.

Urban gun violence does not typically erupt in nation-shocking massacres like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., last December. On city streets, the devastation from gun violence comes and goes with little notice, day after day, with just a few shots, some fired randomly, often after a gang dispute or a petty grudge.

This is a compelling article with the story of a young man who shot at another young man in a confrontation that would not have been deadly without the gun. Guns are easily available to teens all over America. It reminds us of the daily deaths of children and teens in our communities.

A gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

10-month old boy unintentionally shot and killed by father in Tennessee hotel room

A 10-month old boy, Adam Bass, was in a Nashville, Tennessee hotel room with his father, mother, and two brothers, ages 2 and 3, when his father, Larry Bass, handled a loaded handgun.  The father unintentionally fired the gun, hitting Adam in the chest and killing him.

The family was visiting from Texas.

From an article:

Officers responded to the Extended Stay America hotel on Elm Hill Pike, within three minutes of getting the call at 6:42 p.m. Thursday.

Police spokesman Don Aaron said the child, Adam Bass, had been shot in the chest, adding that one of the detectives attempted CPR but couldn’t save him. The child would have turned 1year old in May.

Investigators have learned that the father, Larry Bass, 30, the mother, Jacquelin Bass, 28, and two siblings, both boys, ages 2 and 3 years old, were in the room at the time of the shooting, Aaron said. The father was handling a semiautomatic pistol when the gun went off.

“There’s been some suggestion that there was a mechanical problem with the gun,” Aaron said.

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17-year old Connecticut boy unintentionally shoots self in groin

A 17-year old was next to a school, in New Haven, Connecticut, and had a loaded handgun in his pocket.  He unintentionally discharged the weapon, hitting himself in the penis.  He then ran into the school, where the Principal called 911.

The wound was not life-threatening.

From an article:

“Every witness interviewed said they heard one shot,” said Officer David Hartman, police spokesman. “He shot himself in the groin.” 

The victim is 17, according to police. 

The accidental discharge occurred around 3:15 p.m. in front of 78 Lilac St., according to police. The gun was in the man’s pants, police said. Police currently don’t suspect a nearby gray Acura with a broken window was hit a bullet in this particular incident. 

There appeared to be no glass on the ground near where the car was found, Hartman said. 

“We see that the vast majority of groin shots are accidental discharges,” he said. 

The 17-year-old male ran into nearby Lincoln-Bassett School, said Lt. Jeff Hoffman. 

Another person was coming out of a locked vestibule, which is when he entered the school. 

He then asked the school principal for help. The principal called 911.

The article didn't say how the boy got hold of the weapon.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

5-year old boy shot in head, penetrating skull, by 4-year old brother with pellet gun

A man had just been out hunting with his pump-action pellet gun when he left it on a table, in Wichita, Kansas.

His four-year old son found the gun and pulled the trigger.  The pellet hit the man's other son, age 5, in the head, penetrating the boy's skull.  He is now in the hospital on a ventilator.

From an article:

A 26-year-old man has been arrested following an accidental shooting late Sunday afternoon that has a 5-year-old boy on a ventilator at a local hospital, police said. 

The boy was hit in the left side of his forehead when the man’s 4-year-old son picked up a pellet gun left on the dining table and pulled the trigger, Wichita police Lt. Doug Nolte said. The victim’s mother took him to Via Christi Hospital on East Harry, and he was later transferred to the St. Francis campus. 

The incident was reported to police at about 5 p.m. The pellet penetrated the boy’s skull, Nolte said. 

He may be taken off the ventilator later on Monday because he is showing signs of being able to breath on his own, Nolte added. 

The father of the shooter had been out hunting earlier Sunday before returning to the house in the 2300 block of East Winchester, Nolte said. That’s southeast of 63rd South and Hydraulic. 

He left the pump-action pellet gun on the dining table, where his son was able to reach it. 

“Initially, the family was hesitant to give us a clear story of what happened,” Nolte said. 

The father was arrested on suspicion of offenses that include aggravated child endangerment and obstructing arrest.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/2013/03/11/2711224/man-arrested-after-child-shot.html#storylink=cpy

Pellet guns are not toys.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Students bring loaded guns into school parking lot in Missouri

An observant parent noticed four young males exchanging guns in a car at the Normandy High School in Normandy, Missouri, and alerted school security, who in turn alerted police.  The youths were arrested.

In their possession were two loaded handguns.  Three of the teens were 18, the other was a juvenile.  Three of them were students at the school.

From an article:

A Normandy High spokeswoman said a parent saw four people in two different cars exchanging guns in the parking lot of the school Tuesday afternoon. The parent called security. Security called Wellston Police. 

Officers said the men left, then came back, and that's why officers arrested them. 

They found two powerful, loaded guns, a .40 caliber semi automatic and a .357 revolver. Three of them are over 18. One is under 18. The district spokeswoman said, three of the four are students are the school. 

"There's a big gang problem, it's a lot of fights that break out ," said Clancy. 

Wellston P.D. Sgt. Marvin Berry said investigators are working to find out who exactly the suspects are and why they had guns in the school parking lot. He said he feels strongly that the parent who saw the men and officers prevented a possible shooting. 

"Anything could have happened if she would have looked the other way," said Berry. 

Berry said the men could be facing felony charges of having a gun on school property.

(a related news video)
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6 month old Chicago baby shot and killed and her father injured

Johnylah Watkins, age 6 months

A 6 month old baby was shot and killed as her father was changing his diaper on the seat of their mini-van. From an article:

McCarthy said detectives have only a vague description of the gunman who emerged from a gangway in the 6500 block of South Maryland Avenue shortly before 1 p.m. Monday and opened fire. Jonathan Watkins, 29, was shot as he stood by the minivan's open front passenger door changing his daughter's diaper as she lay on the seat, police said.

The gunman fled to a nearby parking lot and jumped into a blue conversion van, which sped north through an alley, police said. McCarthy said police have video of what they believe is the getaway van, "which is helpful." 

The superintendent said detectives were "pursuing several angles," including that the shooting was gang-related and that Watkins was the intended target. Police say Watkins is a gang member with a lengthy arrest record for drug possession and unlawful use of a weapon.

"It appears he's the intended victim, exclusively the father," McCarthy said.

Police are looking into a claim from a relative that someone had threatened, in a Facebook post, to shoot Watkins, authorities said.

Watkins was shot in his left side and right buttock and suffered a graze wound to the face. McCarthy said detectives have talked to him, but he couldn't say whether he was cooperating or not.

UPDATE (3/13/13):  The little girl's name is Johnylah Watkins, and she was shot 5 times..   The father is Jonathan Watkins, age 28, who belongs to a gang.  From an article:

Jonylah Watkins was shot five times during the Monday afternoon attack in the South Side neighborhood of Woodlawn. She died this morning at Comer Children's Hospital, police said. 

Her father, Jonathan Watkins, was in serious but stable condition, recovering at Northwestern Memorial Hospital from wounds to his side, buttocks and face, which was only grazed, police said. 

Witnesses said the attacker approached Jonathan Watkins around 1 p.m. while he was standing beside his minivan and changing his daughter's diaper. She was on the front seat. Her family said Jonylah was shot in the thigh, shoulder, lung, liver and bowels. 

Jonathan Watkins belongs to a gang and has a long criminal history, and Monday's attack appears to have been gang-related, Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said at a news conference today. He said police weren't sure yet whether Watkins will decide to cooperate in the investigation. 

"No child, certainly not an infant, should be a victim of gang violence," McCarthy said.
Authorities found surveillance video of the blue van in which they believe the attacker fled. They believe a driver waited in the van during the shooting. 

McCarthy said police flooded the neighborhood Monday night to prevent a retaliatory attack over the infant girl's shooting. 

"He was obviously targeted," McCarthy said of Jonathan Watkins. Police were trying to determine whether a reported Facebook post threatening Watkins actually exists, McCarthy said. 

It wasn't the family's first brush with Chicago's gun violence. The girl's mother, Judy Watkins, was shot in the knee while she was pregnant with Jonylah, according to the woman's mother, Mary Young.

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14-year old Washington boy shoots his parents

A 14-year old boy in Moses Lake, Washington, is accused of shooting and injuring his parents.

From an article:

Moses Lake police say a 14-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly shooting his parents. 

Police said officers responded to a call at a home where they found two adults with wounds. 

The Columbian Basin Herald identified  the two adults as the boy's parents. Both victims were transported to an out of area hospital for treatment. 

Police didn't provide further details on the incident.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

5-year old Bronx boy finds father's gun and shoots self in the arm

A 5-year old boy found his father's loaded, unsecured gun in their Bronx apartment and shot himself in the arm with it.

Luckily the wound was not life-threatening.

The father was arrested and charged, at first making up stories about his son being shot by a stray bullet from a robbery attempt in public, and later blaming his 11-year old son for the shooting.

From an article:

The child was in serious but stable condition at Lincoln Medical Center following the 10:35 a.m. shooting inside the family’s Westchester Ave. apartment in Woodstock. 

“He’s doing okay,” said one neighbor, Dana, who would not give her last name. “He’s sitting up and playing video games at the hospital. He was shot through the fat of his shoulder.” 

Police say the child found the gun inside his father’s bedroom and shot himself while playing with it. The dad, Denny Pantoja, 33, was charged with weapons possession and child endangerment. 

Sources said Pantoja lied repeatedly to police about how his son was wounded.
He first told authorities the child was shot when he and his son were robbed at a nearby check-cashing business that morning. 

He then claimed the boy was accidentally shot in a car before claiming his 11-year-old son shot the 5-year-old while playing with the gun inside the apartment. 

Merchants near the apartment, which is inside the St. Mary’s Houses, said Pantoja was taken away in handcuffs. A pit bull and two puppies were also removed from the apartment, neighbors said.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

3-year old Michigan boy finds loaded, unsecured gun and shoots self to death

Michael Richard Leland Easter, age 3

A 3-year old boy, Michael Richard Leland Easter, was at home when he found a loaded, unsecured handgun belonging to his parents and unintentionally shot himself to death with it.

The boy is the son of a Michigan sheriff's deputy.

From an article:

Deputy Mark Easter was heading into work on March 2 when his son, Michael Richard Leland Easter, mistakenly fired at himself inside the family's Jackson County home, Michigan State Police Jackson Post Cmdr. F/Lt. Michael Krumm told Michigan Live. 

Michael was reportedly in the care of his mother when the shooting occurred. The gun used was not Mark's on-duty weapon and it remains unclear how the toddler accessed the firearm. 

"Unless something drastic changes, this is being ruled an accidental shooting and a tragedy," Krumm said, adding that there is no evidence to suggest anything different.
Mark's cousin-in-law agreed the incident was an accident. 

"I know this wasn't intentional and nobody really knows what happened, so there's no point in pointing blame," Cammy Rose told WILX 10.

From another article:

An obituary for Michael Richard Leland Easter with the Desnoyer Funeral Home said: "Born on 11 November, 2009 to Mark and Melissa Easter left to be with God unexpectedly on 2 March, 2013. He was a joy, a rambunctious and loving son. He was loved by his family." 

Steve Rand, from Jackson County Sheriff's Department, said: "This just serves as a reminder that we need to be vigilant when it comes to keeping our children safe."

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

3-year old Tennessee boy shoots self with aunt's gun

A 3-year old boy was in his home in Manchester, Tennessee, when his aunt went to the bathroom, leaving her loaded .380 handgun on the bathroom counter.

The boy found the gun and played with it, shooting himself through the head.

Amazingly, the boy is expected to live.

From an article:

His aunt told police she had to use the bathroom, so she removed her .380 handgun and placed it on the countertop. She apparently forgot about the firearm when her son began to act up and exited the bathroom. 

The 3-year-old's older sister then entered to draw a bath for him, according to WSMV-TV. While she was filling the tub, the toddler grabbed the gun and shot himself in the head. 

His sister told investigators she saw her little brother play with the firearm, but thought it was one of his toy guns. 

Detectives say the bullet passed through the child's skull and exited. 

The boy was airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where doctors are calling him "the luckiest kid on earth" and say he is expected to survive. 

The toddler was "conscious and fighting with nurses" on Saturday, lead investigator for the Manchester Police Dept. Billy Butler told the Manchester Times. 

He was listed in stable condition on Sunday, according to WKRN-TV. 

Investigators ruled the shooting accidental and the child's parents will not be charged.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

16-year old New York boy shot and killed by police

Kimani Gray, age 16

A 16-year old boy in Brooklyn, named Kimani Gray, had just come from a party when he was seen by two plainclothes police "adjusting his waistband" in a "suspicious manner."

They confronted Kimani, at which point they said that the boy pulled out a loaded six-shot revolver.  The police then shot at Kimani 11 times, hitting him multiple times.  He soon died.  He never fired his weapon.

From an article:

The police said the officers, patrolling in an unmarked car in East Flatbush, came upon the teenager, identified as Kimani Gray, 16, in a group of men just before 11:30 p.m. 

The teenager separated himself from the group and adjusted his waistband in what the police described as a suspicious manner. 

As officers got out of the car to question him, Mr. Gray turned and pointed a .38-caliber Rohm revolver at them, the police said; two officers fired, hitting the teenager. 

He was pronounced dead a short time later at Kings County Hospital Center. 

Mr. Gray did not fire the handgun, which was recovered at the scene. Paul J. Browne, the chief spokesman for the Police Department, said the six-shot revolver was loaded with four live rounds. 

“After the anti-crime sergeant and police officer told the suspect to show his hands, which was heard by witnesses, Gray produced a revolver and pointed it at the officers, who fired a total of 11 rounds, striking Gray several times,” Mr. Browne said. 

Mr. Gray’s sister, Mahnefah Gray, 19, said that a witness to the shooting told her that her brother had been fixing his belt when he was shot. She, among others who knew Mr. Gray, said they had never known him to have a gun. Even if he had one on Saturday night, he would not have pointed it at police officers, Ms. Gray said. 

“He has common sense,” she said. 

A woman who lives across the street from the shooting scene said that after the shots were fired, she saw two men, whom she believed to be plainclothes officers, standing over Mr. Gray, who was prone on the sidewalk, clutching his stomach. 

“He said, ‘Please don’t let me die,’ ” said the woman, 46, who gave her name only as Vanessa. One of the officers, she said, replied: “Stay down, or we’ll shoot you again.” 

A cousin of Mr. Gray’s, Malike Vernon, 17, said that Mr. Gray had been at a party Saturday night in the area where he was killed. Mr. Gray, who was of Guyanese and Jamaican descent, grew up in the neighborhood, Mr. Vernon said.

(a related article, questioning the police choices)

The article didn't say where he got the gun and ammo.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

16-year old Tennessee boy chased from school and shot to death

16-year old Lemonte Williams had been in a fight.  The next day, apparently in revenge for the fight, 18-year old Courtney Birt and another suspect chased Lemonte from their high school, down the street, and into an abandoned home, where Birt shot Lemonte to death with four shots.

The high school went into lockdown for a short time.

Birt already had an extensive criminal record for violence.

From an article:

A neighbor identified as Willie McGahee said he heard four gun shots.     "That's all I heard was them shots; walked out here saw two guys cross the street and start running," said McGahee. 

Birt has a criminal record that includes possession of a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment, assault, aggravated burglary and driving on a revoked license. 

A family member identified as Muriel Jones told WDEF that her nephew was chased from Howard High to a nearby home where he was fatally shot. She also said the shooting was the result of an recent physical alteration that occurred at Howard High involving Williams, a female student and another male. 

"He told them he was going to kill Lemonte. He went to the school Friday looking for Lemonte,"said his aunt. 

Howard High School was put on lock down as a precaution after witnesses said they saw two suspects running toward the school. Once the all clear was given, the lock down was lifted and school was dismissed for the rest of the day. 

Police are actively searching for a second suspect.

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16-year old California boy shot and wounded

Police reported to a shooting in Antioch, California, but couldn't find a victim or shooter.  A 16-year old boy later was reported shot when he showed up at an area hospital.

Several schools were nearby, which went into lockdown.

Little else has been revealed.

From an article:

Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 600 block of West 19th Street around 8:40 a.m., police said. 

Police arriving at the scene did not find any victims but learned a short time later that a 16-year-old boy had turned up at a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound. 

He is being treated and is expected to make a full recovery, police said. No other injuries were reported. 

Meanwhile, Antioch High School, Antioch Middle School, Live Oak High School, and Fremont and Marsh elementary schools were all placed on lockdown as a precaution as police searched the area for the shooter, Antioch Unified School District student support services director Bob Sanchez said. 

The lockdown was lifted after about 20 minutes once police had cleared the area, and parents were notified of the incident, Sanchez said. 

The boy who was shot was not an Antioch Unified student, he said. 

Investigators are not aware of any homes or cars damaged by the gunfire. 

Police said no suspects have been located, and the shooting is under investigation.

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5-year old Massachussetts boy and his father shot after leaving daycare

A 5-year old boy had just been picked up by his father and was leaving his daycare, in Holyoke, Massachussetts, when they were shot.  The boy was hit in a knee.

The article did not indicate who the shooter was, a motive, or where the man was injured.

Both wounds are non-life threatening.

From an article:

 5-year-old boy and 26-year-old man believed to be that child's father are recovering after being shot at Lyman and North Summer Street in Holyoke Wednesday afternoon.
According to police, the child was shot in the knee and has what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. 

There are no details at this time about where the man was shot, but police say that his injuries appear to be non-life-threatening as well. 

The shooting was reported at about 12:30 p.m. 

"The investigation is ongoing," said Lt. Matthew Moriarty. "We did have a few people come forward and give us bits of information and that's why our investigation is getting more than one prong right now." 

A neighbor told CBS 3 the child and his father were leaving a daycare across the street when the shooting happened. ....

Police say they do not have any suspects at this time and are hoping for the public's help in finding the person responsible. 

"We're kind of hoping that the public will make a stand against this type of individual, that someone in their own neighborhood, especially a 5-year-old boy, has been shot," said Moriarty. "We're hoping to get a little more information as for the degree of how heinous this crime is right now."

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Florida driver pulls gun on another driver and her 12-year old child

A woman and her 12-year old child were driving in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, when she had to stop behind another car.

That's when Gerald Patrick Price, 64, apparently angry at her driving, pulled up next to her, pointed a small handgun at her and the child, then flipped her off.

She followed him, got his license, and alerted police.  He was arrested and, after he denied having a gun, a handgun was discovered in his office.

From an article:

According to a probable cause affidavit, a woman called police to say that as she and a 12-year-old passenger were heading north on Alternate A1A and Kyoto Gardens Drive, she stopped when the vehicle in front of her stopped. Then Price, who was driving a blue Nissan Maxima behind her, drove to the side of her vehicle, lowered the driver’s side window, pointed a small, black handgun at the child and then showed her his middle finger. 

The woman pulled behind Price’s vehicle, jotted down his license plate number and followed him to The Gardens Mall, where he parked in the north lot near Bloomingdale’s. 

When police arrived at the mall, the mall’s security director said Price was in his office.  

When police questioned him about the incident, Price denied carrying a gun. After a search of his office, police found a black Beretta Tomcat 3032 in a black box. 

Price worked as building director at the mall until Thursday. Michelle Jacobs, corporate director of marketing and operations at The Forbes Company, which owns The Gardens Mall, would not comment on whether Price resigned or was fired. 

Jacobs said Price had worked at the mall for six years, and he was in charge of mall operations, which includes maintenance issues.

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16-year old Michigan boy clinging to life after friend "horseplays" with gun

Brandon Kuiper, age 16

A 16-year old boy, Brandon Kuiper, was with five other teens in the basement of a home in Tallmadge Township, Michigan, when one of the boys, 18 year old Richard Usher, pulled out a .22-caliber handgun, which was registered to Usher's grandfather.  They were in Usher's home.

The boys had been drinking and smoking marijuana.

Brandon was shot in the face at close range. He is now in critical condition.  Usher faces manslaughter charges.

This apparently wasn't the first time the gun was used in "horseplay."

From an article:

According to court records, a detective told a judge that Kuiper was shot when he and 18-year-old suspect Richard Usher, Jr. were playing Russian Roulette with a .22 caliber handgun.  

"There wasn't any disagreement any argument any fight prior to this event," said Bennett. "The gun was pointed at the victim and the trigger was pulled. We don't believe at this particular point the probable cause exists to substantiate any premeditation in that act, but clearly the gun was pointed and the trigger was pulled."  

Bennett said the lack of intent is why the sheriff's department believes attempted manslaughter is the appropriate charge.     

He went on to say that the suspect's mother and grandfather were in the home at the time of the incident, on an upper floor.    

Four other teens between the ages of 17 and 19 were also in the home at the time of the shooting but not injured. Witnesses and Bennett said alcohol and marijuana were being used at the time.  

"Unfortunately there was some drug use there was some alcohol use that we're looking into the origin of those things," said Bennett.  "But that's of concern to us. That, mixed with the horseplay of the firearm, is part of the equation here that caused this tragic result."  

Kuiper was transported to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids with life-threatening injuries.  

Usher was arrested Wednesday night, and was taken to the Ottawa County Jail. He was arraigned Thursday afternoon on one count of attempted manslaughter, a 5-year felony, and a charge of felony firearm, a 2-year felony. 

According to a related news video, the kids apparently shot guns on the property often.