Every year, nearly 3000 children and teens die from gunfire, and nearly 14,000 are injured.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

10 year old North Carolina boy dead of self inflicted gunshot injury

A 10 year old in North Carolina died from a self inflicted gunshot wound. From an article:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said a 10-year-old boy who attended Providence Day School died after a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday morning.
The shooting happened Wednesday morning at a home in the 4600 block of Connecting Road near South Boulevard in Charlotte.
A CMPD source told NBC Charlotte that the father and 12-year-old sister were at home during the time of the shooting. The father was in the shower during the shooting. 
The boy shot himself in the head, according to the source.
Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Monday, January 20, 2014

5 year old Illinois boy in critical condition from gunshot wound

A 5 year old Danville, Illinois boy is in critical condition in a hospital with gunshot injuries. The boy was allegedly shot by another child. From the article:
Danville police are investigating an incident that sent a 5-year-old boy to the hospital with a gunshot wound.
Director of Public Safety Larry Thomason said Sunday that police were called to Presence United Samaritans Medical Center emergency room about 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
“The child was taken to the ER by private vehicle,” he said.  “Hospital staff alerted police.  The 5-year-old had a gunshot to the upper body.”
“According to early investigation the incident took place in an apartment in the Belton Street area,” Thomason said. “It appears that another juvenile male, 10 years of age, was with the 5-year-old and a loaded weapon was being played with.”
Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

15-year old New York student brings rifle to class; stopped by teacher

A 15-year old student came to his school, Indian River High School, in Philadelphia, New York, armed with a loaded rifle.

Just as he was pulling it out of a case, though, an observant teacher, Bob Kuba, stopped him, taking the boy in one hand and the gun in another.  The boy offered no resistance as the school went into lockdown.

No motive was released, but the boy had a plan.

From an article:
On Wednesday afternoon, a 15-year-old student brought a very large object covered in a blanket into Kuba's earth science class at Indian River High School in northern New York and said he wanted to show them a science experiment. When the class was coming to a close, the student removed the blanket, revealing a gun case with a rifle inside. 
Kuba reacted in a flash. 
"When he opened the case, I grabbed the rifle before he could," Kuba told The Associated Press on Thursday. "He offered no resistance at all. I had the gun in one hand and him in the other." 
The school went into lockdown. 
"The class actually was surprised, but at no time did I ever feel threatened, and neither did the class," Kuba said. "You don't know what's going to happen, but it worked out fine." 
Jefferson County Sheriff John Burns told the AP that the student had "a very detailed plan," but the sheriff wouldn't reveal what it was. 
Officials credited Kuba for stopping a potential shooting at the high school in the town of Philadelphia, 140 miles northwest of Albany. 
"He's an absolutely outstanding professional," school Superintendent James Kettrick said. "His actions were decisive and contributed greatly to averting what could have been a tragedy." 
The student was taken into custody. Police aren't releasing his name and said he hadn't been charged as of Thursday morning.
The article didn't say how the boy got his gun.

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

11-year old Pennsylvania girl shot by father who banged his rifle on the ground during argument

36-year-old Thomas Furin was in his home in Derry Township, Pennsylvania, arguing with his girlfriend over an affair he was having, so he loaded his rifle and threatened her with it.  He then banged the butt of the rifle on the floor.  

The rifle discharged, sending a round through the ceiling and into the foot and leg of his 11- or 12-year old daughter in the room above.  The girl underwent surgery.

It happened the day before Christmas eve.

From an article:
According to the police, Furin grabbed a rifle, loaded it then threatened to harm himself if his girlfriend called the police. He then sat on the couch and banged the rifle on the ground, according to investigators. 
That’s when the rifle  sent a round into the air, through the ceiling and into the foot and leg of his daughter, who was watching television while sitting on the floor of a bedroom. 
Neighbor Georgia Chisolm said, “I could hear Erica screaming her head off, so I ran across the street. They said she was in the bedroom with her sister watching TV with her boyfriend, and they just heard screaming. When we went up there, she was more or less in shock.” 
The 11  year-old girl was airlifted to UPMC Children’s Hospital, where she underwent surgery on Monday morning and she will likely remain there for several days. 
According to the police, the victim is 11-years-old, however, neighbors say she just celebrated her 12th birthday. 
Chisolm said, “Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and this all has to happen. It’s horrible. I was up all night; I can’t sleep.”
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Another Utah Police officer shoots and kills family including 5-year old and 7-year old, then self

Kelly and Joshua Boren, ages 5 and 7 (source)
A Utah police officer, Joshua Boren, failed to show up at work, so his coworkers went to his home to investigate, in Spanish Fork, Utah.  They discovered him and four of his family shot to death in the home, apparently at his own hand.

He had killed his wife, Kelly Boren, his 7-year old son Joshua, his 5-year old daughter, Haley, and his 55-year old mother-in-law Marie King, before killing himself.

From an article, which has many other images and details:
Police said the five were found dead about 11pm when co-workers became concerned that Boren didn't show up for his night shift as a patrol officer at the Lindon Police Department. 
Officers who looked through the window saw blood on the carpet and shell casings in the front room of the two-story home, police said.  
After officers entered the home, they discovered 'a large quantity of blood on the stairway leading to the second floor of the residence,' police told KSL 
After officers entered the home, they discovered "a large quantity of blood on the stairway leading to the second floor of the residence."  
After officers entered the home, they discovered "a large quantity of blood on the stairway leading to the second floor of the residence."  
When they went inside, they found Boren's 55-year-old mother-in-law Marie King dead in a bedroom, and Joshua Boren and his immediate family dead in the bedroom next door.
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5-year old Nebraska girl shot to death during drive-by stray bullet

5-year old Payton Benson (source)
A 5-year old girl, Payton Benson, was sitting down to eat breakfast in her home in Omaha,
Nebraska.  A block away, someone in a car with three people opened fire with a handgun and a high-powered rifle.  One of those shots entered Payton's home and hit her.  She died from her wounds.

The family car also had its tires flattened, preventing Payton's mother from driving her to the hospital.

Most likely it was gang-related.  The girl had recently moved from Chicago to get away from gun violence.

From an article, which also has video and images of the shooters and their car:
A 5-year-old Omaha girl was gunned down as she ate breakfast inside her home Wednesday - felled by a stray bullet during a drive-by shooting. 
Cops responded to reports of a hail of gunfire near 45th and Emmett Sts. around 9:45 a.m. to find little Payton Benson critically wounded, police said in a statement. 
The girl later died at a hospital. 
The fatal bullet was fired from more than a city block away, Police Chief Todd Schmaderer said Wednesday evening at a press conference. The area has recently been rife with gang violence and shootings. 
The little girl was the city's first homicide victim of the year, he said. 
"No one inside Payton's house or anyone associated with the house was the intended target," Schmaderer said. .... 
Little Payton, who’d moved with her mother from crime-stricken Chicago, was also the grandniece of Omaha City Councilman Ben Gray. 
Cops believe three suspects blasted the house with a handgun and high-powered rifle as they drove past in a dark-colored Jeep Commander, the Omaha World Herald reported.
Bullets don't know when to stop.

3-year old Arkansas boy unintentionally shot in the head and killed by relative

A man in Fontaine, Arkansas, unintentionally fired his handgun, striking a 3-year old boy in the head and killing him.

From an article:
Greene County Sheriff Dan Langston said 3-year-old Logan Carter of Fontaine died from a gunshot wound in his head. The sheriff said a relative accidentally shot Logan with a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun Saturday. 
According to the sheriff's office, the boy's family took him to Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould after the shooting. The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital. 
Langston said officials are still investigating the case to determine whether any charges should be filed.
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16-year old Florida boy shot in a park

A 16-year old boy was shot in the foot at a St. Petersberg, Florida, park.

From an article:

St. Petersburg Police are responding to a report of a person shot at Lake Vista Park, which is located at 62nd Avenue South and 16th Street. 
A 16-year-old male was shot in the foot while in the park. He has been transported to the hospital for treatment, according to police. 
The teen told detectives that he was shot by a juvenile wearing a denim jacket, jeans and brown boots. 
Lakewood High School, which is nearby, was put on lockdown for a short time. The lockdown has been lifted.
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Friday, January 17, 2014

2 South Carolina children killed in domestic shooting

In the third domestic shooting in about as many days, two more small South Carolina children are dead in a domestic murder/suicide:
A family of Jehovah's Witnesses have been found dead in their South Carolina home after what police say was a shocking murder-suicide.
The bodies of a couple - believed to be Sheddrick and Kia Miller - and their two young children were found Wednesday morning scattered throughout the family's two-story home near Irmo. (...) 
Each of the four was shot in the upper body and a handgun, the presumed murder weapon, was found near the father, Wilson said. 
He said initial evidence suggested a domestic disturbance. Investigators are checking records to see if there had been any prior domestic violence calls made to the house. (...) 
Family friend Rachel Hinson, 25, described them as a good family and said the children were both under the age of five.
She told the Observer she had attended bible study at the Millers' home and went to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses with them. 
'It's confusing, and it's not understandable why something like that would happen,' said Hinson, who's grandmother lives near the home.
South Carolina is the worst of all 50 states when it comes to domestic homicides, according to a report by the Violence Policy Center in Washington.

5 and 7 year old Utah children shot and killed by police officer father

A family tragedy in Utah resulted in a police officer shooting his 2 young children, his wife, mother-in-law and himself:
A 34-year-old officer with a small Utah police department shot and killed his wife, mother-in-law and two young children and turned the gun on himself, authorities said Friday. (...) 
Spanish Fork Lt. Matthew Johnson said the couple had been experiencing marital problems in the past few months, but co-workers say Boren appeared upbeat and didn't show signs of distress before the killings.
"There were no warning signs," Johnson said, adding that police had never been called to the home. "This was a total shock to everyone." (...) 
The five deaths come just days after another Utah murder-suicide that left three people dead.
Kyler Ramsdell-Oliva, 32, fatally shot her two daughters, 13-year-old Kenadee Oliva and 7-year-old Isabella Oliva, on Tuesday evening before killing herself at their home in Syracuse, police said.
The murder-suicide happened a day after the Ramsdell-Oliva's fiance packed up to move out of the house, authorities said

4 year old Detroit, Michigan child shoots 4 year old cousin

A four year old girl found a loaded shotgun under a bed and shot her four year old cousin. The boy died from the injuries. From the article:
A 4-year-old boy was fatally shot in Detroit on Thursday in what police said was a tragic, avoidable accident.
The shooter was the boy’s 4-year-old cousin.
Sgt. Michael Woody, a Detroit police spokesman, said the children were playing in the back bedroom of a home in the 7100 block of Tuxedo when the cousin found a rifle — loaded and not locked in a case — underneath the bed.
He said the girl pointed the gun at her cousin and pulled the trigger, shooting him in the chest. (...) 
Police Capt. Rodney Cox called the shooting a “tragic, tragic accident,” but one that was avoidable. Cox said the department stands behind responsible gun ownership, but “preliminarily, this does not appear to be responsible gun ownership.”
Woody said guns should be kept unloaded, locked in a case and out of the reach of children.
“This is an example of how we must maintain gun safety,” Cox said.
Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

2 Philadelphia students shot and injured in school

Two students were shot and injured in a North Philadelphia school. From an article:
The wounded boy and girl each were shot in an arm, but it was unclear whether one or two shots were fired, Ramsey said. The wounded students, believed to be 15 years old, were taken to a hospital near the school, where they were listed in stable condition, police said.
The boy who was captured lives in south Philadelphia, miles away from the school, and may have driven or taken a bus home after the shooting, Ramsey said. No gun was recovered, he said.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

17-year old Pennsylvania boy found with loaded gun at school

A 17-year old boy had been in a fight at the KIPP Charter School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  When his backpack was searched afterward, a loaded .45-caliber handgun was found within.

The boy had, himself, been a shooting victim last year.

From an article:
Lt. John Walker said the teen was involved in a fight with another student Wednesday morning at KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy at 5070 Parkside Ave.
After the fight was stopped, the other student told security staff the teen was carrying a weapon in his backpack, Walker said.
When staffers asked the student to open his backpack, he refused, and the school called police, KIPP Philadelphia CEO Marc Mannella said. "They were here instantaneously. We were incredibly grateful," he said.
The student did open his backpack for police, who found a .45-caliber handgun inside, Mannella said.
The student was shot last year in Northwest Philadelphia, a law enforcement source said.
Walker said police believe the teenager was hiding the handgun from a parent and had no plans to use it in or around the school.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20140116_Student_found_with_gun_at_W__Philly_charter_school.html#tDhkoTHSrG1P6uXs.99

Lt. John Walker said the teen was involved in a fight with another student Wednesday morning at KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy at 5070 Parkside Ave.
After the fight was stopped, the other student told security staff the teen was carrying a weapon in his backpack, Walker said.
When staffers asked the student to open his backpack, he refused, and the school called police, KIPP Philadelphia CEO Marc Mannella said.
"They were here instantaneously. We were incredibly grateful," he said.
The student did open his backpack for police, who found a .45-caliber handgun inside, Mannella said.
The student was shot last year in Northwest Philadelphia, a law enforcement source said.
Walker said police believe the teenager was hiding the handgun from a parent and had no plans to use it in or around the school.
Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

12-year old brings family shotgun to New Mexico school and wounds two students

Kendal Sanders, age 13 (source)
12-year old Mason Campbell was able to get his family's .20-gauge shotgun and ammo and brought them to his school, Berrendo Middle School, hidden in a band instrument case, in Roswell, New Mexico.  He is a 7th-grader at the school.

Campbell entered the school gym, where a large number of students were gathered before school started, and opened fire.

A good article with details and images.

He shot an 11-year old boy twice in the face, and shot a 13-year old girl, Kendal Sanders, in the right shoulder.  Both are now in the hospital.  The girl is in satisfactory condition, while the boy has had two surgeries and is in critical condition.  The 11-year old believes he was the intended target.

Shooter Mason Campbell, age 12, posing
with a shot animal (source)
A social studies teacher, John Masterson, was able to talk the boy into surrendering the weapon.

The school had a security guard, but the guard wasn't near the situation as it unfolded.

The entire shooting lasted about 10 seconds.

The shooter, Mason Campbell, is apparently a hunter (see image) and is therefore, presumably, familiar with gun and gun safety.

The gun reportedly came from the family home.  How had it been stored?

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

Monday, January 13, 2014

Two Florida teens killed by mother in murder/suicide

Victims Alexander Berman, 16, and Jacqueline Berman, 15,
with the shooter and mother, Jennifer Berman




Jennifer Berman was facing financial problems, in West Palm Beach, Florida.  So she decided to arm herself and shot her two children before killing herself in her home.

16-year-old Alexander Berman and 15-year-old Jacqueline Berman both died from their wounds.

From an article:
The victims were identified as Jennifer Berman, who owned the home, and her children, 16-year-old Alexander Berman and 15-year-old Jacqueline Berman. Police went to the residence after being called by Jennifer Berman’s ex-husband, Richard Berman, just after 8 a.m. local time Monday morning. Richard Berman told authorities Jennifer Berman had sent him an email threatening to “do harm” to herself or the children. Jennifer Berman and the two children were found dead inside with gunshot wounds.
No motive has been confirmed for the shootings, but neighbors told WFOR-TV that Jennifer Bowman had been experiencing financial difficulties, and was in danger of losing the home, which originally owned by her mother. The Post reported that the residence has been in foreclosure since June 2010. Richard Berman is also listed as an owner.
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13-year old boy caught at Virginia school with gun and loaded magazine

A 13-year old boy was caught at Wilder Middle School, in Henrico, Virginia, with a gun and a loaded gun magazine for it.

School officials acted quickly on a tip, and disaster was averted. The school was briefly locked down during the encounter.

From an article:
Authorities today confiscated an unloaded handgun from the bookbag of a 13-year-old student who was carrying a loaded magazine in his pants pocket at Wilder Middle School in Henrico County, police said this afternoon. ....

The student was located in the cafeteria by the school resource officer and administrators, and the magazine was seized.
"The student’s bookbag was in another location within the school. When the bookbag was searched, an unloaded handgun was found.  At this time, there are no reports that the gun was used in a threatening manner," Henrico police said.
The student is in police custody and charges are pending.
The lockdown was lifted shortly after noon.
The article didn't say how the boy got the gun and magazine.  Will the gun owner be held accountable?

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

10-year old Alabama boy unintentionally shot in the head and killed by another boy

Three boys, ages 10, 12, and 14, were in a home in Beaureguard, Alabama, having just returned from a hunting trip. The boys were unsupervised and were putting away a hunting rifle when one of them discharged the gun, striking the 10-year old in the head, killing him.

From an article and video:
[Sheriff] Jones says deputies were called to the home in the 13000 block of Highway 51 in the Beaureguard community for reports of a shooting. The young victim, his 12-year-old brother, and their 14-year-old friend had returned from a hunting trip, and were in a bedroom.

One of the boys was reportedly putting his rifle away when it accidentally discharged and struck the 10-year-old in the head, killing him instantly.

Jones says gun was being handled by another boy, who was not the victim. The boys were not playing with the gun, and he believes all of the boys were familiar with weapons and gun safety.

"It was not a circumstance to where the individuals, I guess a good way to put this is 'horse played' or anything like that," says Jones. "That does not appear to be the circumstances whatsoever. It simply appears, at this point in the investigation, to be an accident. Accidents happen from time to time, and very unfortunately, the consequences, on occasion can extreme."

The mother of the victim and another boy were in the kitchen of the home at the time of the shooting.

Jones says it does not appear anyone will face any charges in the tragic shooting. He says this type of accidental discharge can happen to anyone at anytime.
No, it doesn't "happen to anyone at anytime."  It only happens when loaded guns are handled inappropriately, and all too often by unsupervised children.

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

Father arrested for shooting & killing daughter

34-year-old Deandre Kelley, of Cincinnati, Ohio, has been charged with reckless homicide in connection with the shooting death of his daughter, 11-year-old Shanti Lanza.  According to reports:

On Sunday, police say Deandre Kelley arrived home intoxicated after 2 a.m. His girlfriend of 15 years, and mother of Shanti, forced Kelley out of the house, where he fired four shots into the air.

One of those bullets ended up in a second story bedroom of the house. Shanti Lanza was in the room. The bullet struck her in the chest.

Shanti was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Antwone Kelley said his brother left the scene without knowing what happened in the second floor bedroom until he found out he was wanted. Antwone was one of the people who spoke with Deandre, convincing him to surrender to police.

"It was a bunch of crying. He didn't mean to do it. What more can I say? He didn't mean to do it," said Antwone.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Tennessee child unintentionally shot in the head at a home

A child and his friend were at a home in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and handled an unsecured, loaded firearm.

One child pulled the trigger and hit the other in the back of the head.

Luckily, it appears the child may survive.

From an article:
Investigators tell Channel 3 that upon their arrival they found a child suffering from a significant bullet wound to the back of the head.
It was reported to police that the juvenile was with a friend and the two were handling a loaded firearm when the friend pulled the trigger of a small caliber revolver and accidentally struck the victim in the back of the head.
Investigators say the child was conscious and talking to officers and was brought to the hospital by his mother and is currently being treated for the injury that is believed to be non-life threatening
Investigators did recover the weapon. The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released when available.
The article doesn't say how the children got hold of the gun.

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

16-year old Tennessee boy shoots 17-year old boy at school

A 16-year old boy and a 17-year old boy had been fighting over a girl, at Liberty Technology Magnet High School in Jackson, Tennessee.  After school, the 17-year old approached the 16-year old.

That's when the younger boy pulled out a handgun and shot the 17-year old in the thigh.  The shooter fled, but was later caught.

The shooting happened on school property, just outside the school doors.

From an article:
Police said on Friday that investigators have learned the 16-year-old suspect and 17-year-old shooting victim had been in a previous disagreement concerning a female Liberty student. When school was dismissed Thursday afternoon, the 17-year-old approached the 16-year-old outside the building, police said.There was an altercation, and the 16-year-old shot the 17-year-old once in the thigh with a handgun, investigators said.
The 17-year-old did not have a gun.
“The 17-year-old approached the shooter,” Jackson police Capt. Tyreece Miller said. “If (the victim) had not approached (the shooter) we don’t think he would have shot him.”

The 16-year-old is charged with aggravated assault, carrying a weapon on school property, alteration of an item with permanent distinguishing numbers because the serial numbers had been altered on the handgun, and tampering with evidence.

The shooting victim remained in the hospital Friday in stable condition, police said.

The 16-year-old is charged with assault because authorities do not believe he intended to kill the victim, Miller said.

The gun's serial number had been filed off.  Where did the boy get his gun?

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

3-year old Arkansas boy shot and killed by a relative

A 3-year old boy was shot in the head and killed, by a relative, in Greene County, Arkansas.

From an article:
Sheriff Dan Langston confirms a three year old boy was shot in the head around noon Saturday and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Sheriff Langston said the boy was shot on County Road 336 off Highway 228 by a family member. Sheriff Langston adds that they are speaking with a prosecutor to discuss potential charges against the shooter.
From another article:
Greene County Sheriff Dan Langston said Logan Carter was shot in the head Saturday just before noon inside a home on County Road 336. He was later pronounced dead at a Paragould hospital.
Langston said Michael Carter, father of Logan, accidentally shot the boy with a .45 caliber gun purchased online about a month ago.
The boy's mother and brother were in the home when it happened.
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8-year old Oregon boy unintentionally shot at home

(UPDATED -- See below)

An 8-year old boy was unintentionally shot in his home in Gresham, Oregon.

From an article:
An 8-year-old boy was shot in the abdomen at his home in Gresham Saturday afternoon in what investigators said appears to be an accidental shooting.

Police were called to the home in the 17900 block of SE Marie Street around 2:20 p.m. after the shooting. The boy was rushed to a hospital for emergency surgery and is said to be stable.

Gresham police are investigating.
UPDATE (1/13/14):  The boy was shot by his father, with a shotgun.  The father claims it happened "while storing his shotgun in a gun safe."  From an article:
An 8-year-old boy is recovering after his father accidentally shot him Saturday afternoon while storing his shotgun in a gun safe, Gresham Police said. 
The boy was struck once in the abdomen at his home, in the 17900 block of Southeast Marie St. around 2:19 p.m., police said in a press release. His family drove him to a nearby hospital, and the boy was immediately transferred to another hospital for surgery. Police did not know his exact condition, but said he is "stable, alert and talking."  
Gresham detectives have corroborated the family's statements about the shooting, according to the release. They cautioned people to always treat their firearms as if they are loaded, even if they believe them to be unloaded, and to always point them in a safe direction.
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15 year old Ohio teen shot by another teen while playing with a gun

And yet another teen has been shot by someone while playing with a gun. This time it was in Columbus, Ohio. From an article:
Officers found a 15-year-old boy shot in the chest.  He was transported to Grant Medical Center with non-life threatening wounds.
Police said it appears two teenagers were playing with a gun when it discharged, striking the victim.
Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

9 year old North Carolina boy dies of injuries suffered while riding in his car

A 9 year old boy has died of gunshot injuries suffered while he was riding in his mother's car. From an article:
A boy shot along with his mother in their car last weekend has died of his injuries.
Jaedan Sharpe, 9, son of 31-year-old Lakeisha Holloway, was shot on Jan. 4 in a sports utility vehicle on Lucas Drive. The Durham Police Department on Friday confirmed that the boy had died.
His death marks the first homicide of the year for Durham.
Callers told 911 operators that a shooter, on foot, fired as many as six shots into the vehicle. Holloway then drove a few blocks away to get help. The suspect fled.
Kids should be able to ride in their parents' cars without fear of being shot.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Drunk Ohio father fires gun in home and holds his children hostage

A 39-year old drunk man was having an argument with his wife at home in Akron, Ohio, when he fired a shot from his gun, apparently threatening her.  She called the police, and a four-hour standoff ensued until he surrendered. 

His four children, ages 10, 15, 16, and 18 were held by him that entire time.  Luckily, no one was injured. 

From an article:
Vincente Castellano Jr., 39, of North Firestone Boulevard, was arrested on charges of domestic violence, aggravated menacing and using a weapon while intoxicated.
Police were first called to the home in the 300 block of North Firestone Boulevard at about 8 p.m. when a woman contended Castellano was intoxicated and had fired a gun into the bedroom floor during an argument.
The woman talked to officers outside of the house and said four children, ages 10, 15, 16 and 18, were still inside the house with Castellano.
SWAT officers surrounded the house and during the next four hours communicated with the teens using a cell phone and their Facebook accounts. The children eventually walked outside and Castellano subsequently surrendered at the urging of police negotiators, police said.
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Teen boy and girl injured in "hail of gunfire" in California

A 16-year old girl and a 17-year old boy were walking together down a very dark street in a neighborhood of San Bernardino, California, when they were fired upon, most likely by multiple shooters.  Both teens were injured, one in the leg and the other in the arm, though luckily not life-threatening.

The shooters had at least one .40-caliber handgun.  They have yet to be identified or captured.

The neighborhood has had a lot of crime lately, including shootings.

From an article:
Neighbors said Sunday they heard between 15 and 20 gunshots in rapid succession out of the darkness on the sidewalk across from their homes. 
“These were just kids. They weren’t gang members. ... The girl couldn’t have weighed more than 80 pounds,” said one neighbor, who declined to be identified. 
The teens were taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center. No further information about their condition was available Sunday. 
Out of fear of retaliation, not one neighbor felt comfortable disclosing their name. 
There are no city street lights in this stretch of North Mountain Avenue, immediately north of Lynnwood Avenue and west of Del Rosa. Houses occupy only the east side of the street. 
One resident took a reporter to a concrete block wall, which several in the neighborhood say shows multiple bullet impact smudges and one deep hole. 
The wall is near the western edge of the sidewalk, where the young couple had been walking in a southerly direction before the gunfire. 
One neighbor said that examination of one of the spent shell casings showed it to be from a .40 caliber firearm. 
The potent .40 caliber handgun cartridge has been adopted by many law-enforcement agencies across the United States, including the California Highway Patrol, and is a frequent choice among civilians who are comfortable with stout recoil. 
Several neighbors said they believe two firearms were used in the shooting because of the rapid rate of fire. After the shooting ceased, two or three assailants ran to a car located a significant distance away, where they made their escape, residents say. 
The sidewalk on the western side of the street is so dark that identification of the suspects — even their race — was impossible, residents say.
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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

3-year old Ohio girl injured by gun in home, mother and felon father lied about shooting

3-year old girl victim (source)
A 3-year old girl was in her home in Cincinnati, Ohio, when a gun was fired and injured her.  The parents, Ebony McDavis, 28, and her boyfriend,Cordero Warren, 25, who lived together at the address, initially told police that the shooting had happened on the street by unknown assailants, but later it was determined that it had happened in the home.

The father is a felon who is not legally supposed to possess a gun.

The girl is recovering.

From an article:
Cincinnati Police responded to 3610 Tacoma Ave. on Dec. 17 for a report of a shooting. Police found the girl at the scene suffering from the gunshot wound. She was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center where she remains hospitalized.
The Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office said the girl's mother -- Ebony McDavis, 28, of Avondale -- and her boyfriend -- Cordero Warren, 25, of Westwood -- were living together at the Tacoma Avenue residence.
Authorities say Warren -- a convicted felon -- possessed a loaded gun at the residence. That was the gun that fired and wounded the girl.  The prosecutor's office said Warren's prior felony conviction for drug trafficking prevents him from legally possessing a firearm.
Warren and McDavis are charged with falsification for giving false statements about the incident. The prosecutor's office said the couple initially blamed the shooting on random gunfire by unknown people in the neighborhood. Police determined the girl was shot in the residence. 

Both are charged with tampering with evidence, a third degree felony. The prosecutor's office said the charge is because the gun that caused the injury to the girl was disposed of and was never recovered.
McDavis is charged with one count of child endangering (a first degree misdemeanor), one count of assault (a first degree misdemeanor), one count of tampering with evidence (a third degree felony) and one count of falsification (a first degree misdemeanor).
McDavis faces three years in prison if she's convicted of all charges. 

Warren is charged one count of child endangering (second degree felony), one count of assault (first degree misdemeanor), 1 count of negligent  assault (a third degree misdemeanor), one count of tampering with evidence (a third degree felony), one count of weapon under disability (a third degree felony) and one count of falsification (a first degree misdemeanor).
If convicted of all charges, Warren faces 17 years in prison.
It is likely that the shooting was unintentional.

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

15-year old Florida boy shot while riding his bike

15-year old Onardo Bent (source)
15-year old Onardo Bent was riding his bike to his home when he was shot in the side, in west Orlando,
Florida, in what may have been a stray bullet incident.  He is now in critical condition.

From an article:
Onardo Bent, 15, was struck in the torso just before 9:30 a.m., while riding a short distance to his uncle’s home in the 4800 block of Leprechaun Way, in the Pine Hills area.
The teen, who remains in critical condition, fell unconscious in the home and was unable to provide information regarding the shooting.
Yesterday, at a news conference, his sister, Odeika Bent appealed to the public for information regarding the circumstances surrounding her brother’s shooting.
Onardo could have been hit by a stray bullet, but to date, no one has come forward.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings also joined the family in appealing to the public for help and called for “justice for the person responsible for shooting this young man.”
Onardo was an honor student at Oak Ridge High School and a good athlete, his family said.
Bullets don't know when to stop.

2-year old Louisiana girl and father shot and killed by 17-year old boy

2-year old Makayla Middleton (source)
A 17-year old boy, Jacob Middleton, Jr. shot entered his father's home and shot both his father, Jacob Middleton, Sr., and his 2-year old half-sister, Makayla Middleton, in the head, killing them both.  The bodies were later discovered by the girl's mother.

The teen later admitted the killing, stating as his motivation years of abuse by the father.

From an article:
The 17-year-old son of a man who was found shot to death Monday at a home near Abita Springs is being held in the St. Tammany Parish jail on two counts of first-degree murder, and has not been granted bond, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain's office said Tuesday.
Jacob Middleton Jr., of 1601 Haring Road in Metairie, is accused of fatally shooting his father, Jacob Middleton Sr., 35, and his 2-year-old half-sister, Makayla Middleton. ...
Shooter Jacob Middleton, Jr., age 17 (source)
The younger Middleton admitted to shooting his dad and half-sister, when questioned by investigators early Tuesday, Strain said in a press release. Strain would not say whether investigators found a weapon at the crime scene.
Jacob Middleton Jr. "indicated that his actions were the result of, among other things, his hatred of his father for what he claimed was years of abuse and family violence," Strain said.
St. Tammany Parish court records show Jacob Middleton Jr.'s parents divorced in 2011.
In 2010, a 22nd Judicial District Court judge granted Middleton's mother a protective order that prevented Jacob Middleton Sr. from going within 100 yards of her home, court records show. In her petition requesting a protective order, Middleton's ex-wife claimed he slapped, choked, shoved and threatened her with bodily harm and with a weapon.
Strain said Monday that deputies been called to the Carnation Street home in the past for domestic violence and mental health issues.
The article did not state how the teen got the gun and ammo.

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

15-year old California boy shot

According to an article:
A 15-year-old boy standing in front of a home in the 1900 block of Dijon Street was shot around 9:05 p.m. Monday, police reported.
The teen was transported to a local hospital, where he is in serious but stable condition with a gunshot wound to his upper body.
Police said the suspect is a man in his 20s.
.

12-year old Missouri girl unintentionally shot and killed by 12-year old relative

A 12-year old girl and her 12-year old relative were in a home in Springfield, Missouri, when they played with a loaded, unsecured firearm.  One of them discharged the gun, hitting and killing the girl, apparently unintentionally.

The girl's mother was home at the time.

A news video.

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


Two Pennsylvania teen boys attempt to rob gun shop at gunpoint

Two teen boys, ages 15 and 17, entered the Suburban Armory gun shop in Collingdale, Pennsylvania, brandished a handgun, and attempted to rob the store.

The shop owner pulled out his own gun and fired a shot.  The shot missed the boys, but the boys fled.  They were later captured.

From an article:
Two juveniles, ages 15 and 17, are in police custody and will be charged as adults with multiple offenses, including robbery, possessing an instrument of crime, reckless endangerment and possession of a controlled substance, Police Chief Robert Adams said. 
According to Adams, officers responded to a silent alarm at the business in the 1000 block of MacDade Boulevard at about 1:40 p.m. 
The owner reportedly told police that two black males entered the store wearing “Muslim-type clothing,” one of whom pointed a silver handgun at him as they announced the robbery. 
The incident was captured on video, according to Adams.
The article didn't say how the boys got their gun.

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

15-year old Florida boy shoots father to death during fight between parents

Christopher Albano came home intoxicated, then started arguing and beating his wife, Jinette Albano.  During the fight, their 15-year old son, Johnny, got the loaded family shotgun and shot his father to death.

This apparently wasn't the first time young Johnny had threatened his father with the family gun.

The couple had financial problems and were facing foreclosure.

From an article:

Orange County deputies said 15-year-old Johnny Albano shot his father, Christopher Albano, just after 2 a.m. at a home on Sun Dew Road because the man was allegedly beating his wife. 
Jinette Albano called 911 and said her husband came home intoxicated and began hitting her, so her son, Johnny, grabbed a gun and shot him. 
Channel 9 has learned it wasn't the first time the boy got in the middle of a fight between his parents. 
Reporter Jeff Deal got a report from the sheriff's office showing that in 2012, the parents were having a dispute over financial issues and the boy felt the dad was going to hurt his mom, so he picked up a shotgun and pointed it at his father but never fired. 
"My grandson had pulled a gun on him a prior time for that, yes," said the victim's mother, Phyllis Nason. .... 
Deal learned Thursday that the Albanos were having financial difficulty, and their home was in foreclosure. 
Bank of America was trying to foreclose on the home they bought in 2008, claiming the couple stopped making payments in 2011 and still owed around $224,000 on the principal. 
Channel 9 also learned Jinette Albano is being sued by Ally Bank over a claim of $13,000 owed on a luxury SUV that she no longer owns.

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