5 year old Chicago area boy shot in domestic shooting

A domestic shooting rampage took the life of a 5 year old Illinois boy on his birthday, along with 3 members of his family:

Matthew Meier was celebrating his 5th birthday by spending the night with his grandparents John and Janice Conta in Oak Lawn. What happened next authorities can't explain.

Sometime overnight, Matthew's uncle John Conta Jr. shot all three dead. He also poured gasoline in the basement and lit it, according to police and fire officials.

Autopsies conducted today determined that all of the people died from shotgun wounds. After shooting his family members, Conta Jr. committed suicide by shooting himself in the face, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. 

One of the first firefighters on the scene Wednesday morning entered the garage of the home in the 9800 block of South 51st Avenue as Conta Jr. pulled the trigger of a shotgun and killed himself too, police said. 

“What made him go into this rampage, I don’t know if we’ll ever know that,” said Oak Lawn Police Division Chief Michael Kaufmann. 

Conta Jr. had spent about a year working as a potato farmer in Russia before moving back with his parents a few months, police said. 

“When he came back, he seemed a little different,” Kaufmann said. “His mental state may have changed.”

Florida Middle school boy shoots himself accidentally

A middle school child in Florida accidentally shot himself and then said someone else had shot him. From the article:

Deputies trying to find the person who shot a 15-year-old boy Tuesday in Pine Hills didn't have to go far: He shot himself by accident, then lied about it, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

Calls reporting the shooting gave different addresses on Silver Star Road, so it took deputies about 15 minutes to find the boy, sheriff's spokeswoman Jane Watrel said.

Then they searched for a shooter until the truth came out.

The shooting happened in the J-Mart parking lot at the corner of Hiawassee and Silver Star roads. It was reported about 3:20 p.m.

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

5 month old North Carolina baby shot while sitting in car seat

A North Carolina man accidentally shot a 5 month old baby while she was sitting in her car seat on a porch. From an article:

Police say it appears that Arin Tavon Futrell of Durham shot the gun accidentally, firing one bullet that hit the girl in a hand and a leg. The girl was in a car seat on the porch when she was hit, said police spokeswoman Kammie Michael.

She was taken to a hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, Michael said.

Futrell, 21, was charged with felony negligent child abuse resulting in bodily injury. He was also arrested on outstanding warrants alleging attempted breaking and entering and conspiracy to commit breaking and entering.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/02/19/3635952/police-5-month-old-wounded-by.html#storylink=cpy

9 year old Arkansas boy found dead of gunshot injury

A 9 year old Arkansas boy was squirrel hunting with his family when he disappeared into the woods with a .22 rifle. From an article:

According to the Union County Sheriff's Office, Hank Bollen, 9, was found around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning after an extended all night search. Hank's body was found about 200 yards away from his family's deer camp and authorities say he did have an unintended self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

Hank went missing around 11:00 a.m. Monday while he was squirrel hunting with relatives in the heavily wooded area south of U.S. 82 in the Braswell Corner-Shuler Road area near Marysville. 

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

3 year old shot in Florida

Another small child has been shot in what seems to be an accidental shooting. From an article:

Authorities said a 3-year-old Lake Worth girl died Thursday after what appears to be an accidental shooting.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's officials said Zuri Chambers was shot with an unsecured weapon. She and her father were the only two people in the house. Zuri was flown to Delray Medical Center, where she died Thursday night.

This case is under investigation.

15 year old Alaska boy injured while walking home from rabbit hunt

An Alaska teen was shot in the leg while walking home from a rabbit hunt. From an article:

An Alakanuk teenager was shot in the leg while walking home from a rabbit hunt Thursday, and troopers say they have no idea who fired at him, or why.

The 15-year-old was walking alone near the Yukon River at about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday when he was shot in the left calf, the Alaska State Troopers said in an online dispatch.

The wound appeared to be from a .22-caliber firearm, troopers said.

Troopers at an outpost St. Mary's weren't notified until 11 a.m. the next day, according to the dispatch.

Alabama man accidentally shoots 6 year old son

A 6 year old Alabama boy was injured when his father accidentally shot him in the face:

According to Huntsville Police Department, the victim's father accidentally shot the child while he was trying to unload his pistol.

The child was hit above his left collarbone.

Medical personnel attended to the child's injuries and determined they were not life-threatening.

14 year old Boston teen shoots brother accidentally

A 14 year old boy was playing with a gun in his house while his 9 year old brother was home from school sick. The Massachusetts boy was killed by the "accidental" gunshot injury:

A 14-year-old Mattapan youth was charged tonight with involuntary manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm following the accidental shooting death of his 9-year-old brother earlier today.

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley announced this evening the 14-year-old will be arraigned Monday in juvenile court on the two delinquency charges.

“Part of our investigation in the days to come will be determining how this weapon got into the hands of a 14-year-old,” Conley said. “In the meantime, I want to make something crystal clear: if you know about an illegal firearm in this city, help us prevent another tragedy like this one. Boston Police are doing a tremendous job of taking guns off the street, but they aren’t mind readers. They need tips and information about these weapons before they’re used.” (...) 

“At 11:37, officers received a radio call for 617 Morton Street for a person shot on arrival,” Boston police Commissioner William Evans said. “We found dead (boy) suffering from a gunshot to the chest. At that time we had a report of an individual running out of the house. On further investigation it looks like we have a terrible tragedy. We have a brother who shot his younger brother accidentally.”

Evans said the victim was shot on the second floor of the triple-decker apartment house, where a sister was also at home. The boy’s older brother was found with the gun moments after the shooting a short distance away on Walk Hill Street, he said.

“At this time we believe that the young kid panicked,” Evans said “We caught up to him, he was very remorseful and made statements that we believe — it was an accidental discharge. We believe the boy panicked. As soon as we captured him, he was very remorseful for what he did.”

At this time there is apparently some confusion as to whether the gun was legally obtained or illegal in some way.

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

17-year old Rhode Island boy shot and killed from outside his home

A 17-year old boy was in his home in Providence, Rhode Island, when a bullet entered his home from outside, killing him.  Police don't think it was a stray bullet.

From an article:

Providence police say they're looking for suspects in the killing of a 17-year-old boy who was shot inside a home when gunfire apparently came through a window. 

Authorities say the teen was shot at about 9 p.m. Tuesday in a home on Colfax Street. Police say he was in the kitchen when someone opened fire outside. 

Major David Lapatin says investigators do not believe this was a case of stray bullets. They believe the home was targeted. 

The victim's name hasn't been released. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where police say he was pronounced dead at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. 

Two men reportedly were seen running from the scene.

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16-year old North Carolina girl implicated in shooting

Shooter Dominique Olivia Gibbs, age 16 (source)

18-year old Raequan Dupree Rouse was found shot to death in Wilmington, North Carolina.  Police have now arrested 16-year old Dominique Olivia Gibbs for the shooting, which was apparently gang-related.

From an article:

Rouse was shot in the 600 block of North 10th Street in an act of violence Wilmington Police Department Chief Ralph Evangelous said "clearly was a gang issue." 

A bystander who witnessed the shooting and called 911 said about 15 shots were exchanged. 

The 18-year-old arrived at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in a private vehicle and was pronounced dead a short time later. 

Rouse had been shot 12 times, according to the 911 recording. 

When police officers arrived on the scene, according to the 911 records, they found shell casings in front of 605 S. 10th St. and a blood trail "all the way down the sidewalk and around the corner" of Campbell Street.

The article does not say how Dominique got her gun or ammo.

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

One teen killed and three others injured in Chicago shooting

17-year old Markeyo Carr (source)

In what may have been a gang-related shooting, a masked gunman opened fire at a McDonald's
parking lot in the Roger's Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

When the shooting had ended, a 17-year old boy, Markeyo Carr, was shot in the head an killed, a 15-year old girl was shot several times and wounded, and two 18-year old young men were wounded, one in the arm and one in the lower back.

The shooter got away.

From an article:

A short time after dozens of witnesses reported hearing at least six gunshots, the teen lay dead, a sheet covering his body as his mother moaned in grief outside yellow police tape in the 6700 block of North Clark. 

Markeyo Carr, of the 6500 block of North Ashland, was dead at the scene, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. 

The victims had been in a verbal altercation with another group of people shortly before the masked gunman approached around 3:40 p.m., said Chicago Police Officer Veejay Zala, citing preliminary information. Then the shooter ran off, Zala said. 

A girl, who police said was about 15, was shot several times, and an 18-year-old man, who was shot in the lower back, were taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston. Another 18-year-old man, who was shot in the arm, was treated at Weiss Memorial Hospital. 

“Two of the male victims have documented gang affiliations,” Zala said. 

Juanita Carr-Clay said her nephew, Markeyo, loved to rap. 

“He made little videos at home on his own,” she said. “He was very talented. He rapped about everyday life, reality.” 

She said Markeyo, who attended a nearby high school, had just come from his mother’s house around the corner. “She’d given him a few dollars to get something to eat.” 

Faye McCoy, a retired nurse, was in a storefront across the street when she heard the gunshots. The gunfire ceased, and while rushing to see if she could help, McCoy walked right past the masked gunman. “I didn’t see his face,” she said. 

McCoy, who has lived in the area for more than 13 years, broke down when she saw the slain teen with a bullet wound in the side of his head. “I recognized his face,” said McCoy, who knew Markeyo from working with local youth groups to prevent violence. 

“There was no help for him, he was shot in the temple it looked like, he took his last breath with me standing there . . . Blood was everywhere.” 

McCoy said she didn’t think Markeyo was in a gang, and she lamented the needless death. 

“I have great-grandkids, and it would hurt my heart to see one of them laying out here like that.”

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13-year old Washington boy unintentionally shot and killed with unsecured shotgun

Eddie Zee, age 13 (source)

Four teen boys were playing unsupervised in a home in Puyallup, Washington, when one of them
brought out a loaded, unsecured shotgun.  When one of the boys grabbed the gun, he discharged it, hitting 13-year old Eddie Zee.  Eddie soon died from his wound.

From an article:

Police say the shooting happened when four young boys were playing in a residence after school without adult supervision. The boy who lived there pulled out a shotgun and displayed it to the others. A second grabbed the gun and it discharged, hitting the victim. 

Captain Scott Engle says the juveniles immediately called for help and medics and police were called to the scene. They found the teen suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound to the chest. One of the other young men was performing CPR when they arrived. 

The victim died at Tacoma General Hospital. 

"Everybody all the way around is extremely upset. It's a very traumatic incident for everyone involved. Just an extreme tragedy for essentially four boys that were hanging out together," Engle says. 

The shooting in the 500 block of 11th Street Southeast is being treated as accidental and the investigation continues. Any potential charges will be determined by the Pierce County Prosecutor.

The article also had a statement from the family.

The article didn't indicate who the gun belonged to or if they would be charged.

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

15-year old Michigan boy shot to death

From an article from Detroit, Michigan:

The Detroit Police Department has identified the young man found shot in a vehicle in the 900 block of Glynn Ct. 

7 Action News has confirmed his name is Amir Irvin and that he had just turned 15 years old.

Amir was found shot in the head and slumped over the wheel of an SUV near the Boston-Edison district last Saturday.

He's hospitalized in a coma at Henry Ford Hospital.
Sources tell 7 Action News the shooting happened in the same block as a known drug house, but police say the victim did not have drugs on him or in his car.
Police are looking for a cream-colored Lexus that may be connected to the shooting. 

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15-year old Chicago boy shot to death by gang members

A 15-year old boy, Miguel Navarrette, was standing beside a car with his family in it, when an SUV drove up.  The men in the car shouted a gang slogan to him, and when Miguel asked "What?" in response, the men opened fire with a shotgun three times, killing the boy, before driving off and hitting a pedestrian with their SUV.

The two men, Martin Miranda and Andres Guerra, both 19, were eventually captured and charged.

From an article:

Navarette was standing outside a car parked on 30th street near Kedvale Avenue, with two adults and their children in it, when an SUV driven by Guerra drove up, said Steve Campbell, a spokesman for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. 

Miranda, who was in a rear seat of the SUV on the passenger side, lowered the window and shouted “2-6,” a slogan for the 2-6 street gang, prosecutors said. 

Navarette responded, “What?” Miranda opened the car door and shot Navarette once with a sawed-off shotgun, prosecutors said. Miranda pumped the shotgun and pointed it at the people in the car, then turned back to Navarette, who was lying on the ground, and shot him twice more.

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3-year old South Carolina boy shoots himself to death with pink handgun he thought was a toy

Temorej Smith, age 3, and a comparable handgun
(source)

Three-year old Temorej Smith was in a home in Greenville, South Carolina, with his 7-year old
sister when they found a loaded, unsecured handgun in the bedroom.  Thinking it was a toy, he handled it, then fatally shot himself in the head.

His grandparents were in the next room at the time.

From an article and news article:

On Monday, police said the child and his 7-year-old sister were playing with a pink handgun, they thought was a toy, when the shooting happened. 

Fowler said that the child was in the bedroom and his grandparents were in the living room when the gun went off. 

Fowler said the child's parents were not in the home. 

According to Johnathan Bragg of the Greenville Police Department, when officers arrived at the apartment just before 8 p.m. Friday, they found the young child that had been shot. 

"If you have guns, if you own guns mostly we would prefer you have them in a lock box," Bragg said. "At least have them out of the reach of children." 

Bragg told News 4 no one was in custody and that the investigation is ongoing. Police have yet to say who fired the weapon.

Guns are lethal weapons.  They shouldn't be "cute" colors.

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

17 month old North Carolina child shot at home by 3 year old sibling

A 3 year old North Carolina child climbed onto a dresser and found a gun, then accidentally shooting his 17 month old sister.  From the article:

 A 17-month-old girl is in the hospital and is expected to be OK after she was shot by her 3-year-old brother with their father's gun.

The father, Justin Carper, writes a parenting column for a local newspaper.

Police have not arrested or charged Carper with any crimes as of Thursday night.

Carper is a contributing writer for the Shelby Star. He's not a paid employee but he does write a parenting column.

The 17-month-old girl was shot in Patterson Springs, according to an investigator with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department.

The child is expected to survive.

The shooting occurred on Jenny Drive on Thursday morning. 

The family was doing renovations inside the home and the 9 mm gun was on a dresser.

The little boy climbed the dresser, got the gun and shot his sister.

The bullet did not hit any bones or major organs.

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

17-year old Florida girl shot and killed by mother in murder/suicide

Chetana Guduru, age 17 (source)

A 17-year old girl, Chetana Guduru, was shot twice and killed by her mother, Sujatha Guduru, in their Oviedo, Florida home.  The mother then turned the gun on herself, hitting herself in the chest.  She later recovered, however, and was charged for the murder.

From an article:

Guduru told authorities she shot her daughter, Chetana Guduru, a Seminole High School senior, at least twice in a botched murder-suicide at their Oviedo home on Jan. 27. 

Guduru said she feared that no one would care for her daughter after she committed suicide, police told the Orlando Sentinel. 

Guduru’s attorney, Brian Bieber of Miami, said Jan. 31 that Guduru has been mentally ill for most of the last 20 years and may plead insanity. ... 

Alarmed by [an] e-mail, her brother got to the house about 7:20 a.m. and found them both still alive, according to police. 

Guduru's daughter died a short time later at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Her mother told police she had shot her daughter twice, reported the newspaper. .... 

 Bieber hinted that because of her mental health history, Guduru should not have been able to purchase the .38-caliber revolver, the gun she used, at a local gun shop six days before the shooting. 

But gun restrictions only prohibit ownership of two very narrow groups of mental health sufferers: those who have been committed to a mental institution and those found by a judge or government agency to be a danger to themselves or others. 

Guduru was a single mother who lived in her home with her daughter and mother — Chetana's grandmother — who was at home when the shootings took place but was asleep, police reported.

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