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.

16-year old Massachusetts boy unintentionally shoots himself with illegal gun

A 16-year old boy was in a Fitchburg, Massachusetts apartment with two men when he was handling the men's handgun.  He then unintentionally shot himself in the abdomen.

The gun was illegally owned by the men, who were trying to flee with the gun when police arrived.

The boy will likely survive the wound.

From an article:

The 16-year-old boy shot himself in the abdomen at around 4 p.m. Sunday at an apartment complex, said Fitchburg Deputy Police Chief Philip Kearns. An investigation revealed the incident was an accident, he said. 

When officers responded to the scene, one noticed Luis Robles, 25, and Efrain Molina, 24, both of Fitchburg, in a car quickly backing out of a nearby driveway, Kearns said. In their possession was the gun used by the teen. 

“Somebody was trying to get the gun away before police showed up,” Kearns said. “After some investigation, it is believed Mr. Robles put the gun in the car so Mr. Molina could drive it away.” 

Molina, the driver, and Robles, the passenger, were placed under arrest. Molina and Robles’s connection with the victim is not yet clear, though they weren’t strangers, Kearns said. 

Molina and Robles are charged with illegal possession of a firearm and will be arraigned Tuesday at Fitchburg District Court. Kearns said it’s likely the two could face additional charges, such as improper firearm storage. 

The 16-year-old is still recovering at Worcester’s UMass Medical Center with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, Kearns said.

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

Massachusetts school bus with kids hit by pellet gun

A school bus in Worcester, Massachusetts, loaded with children, was hit by a man shooting a pellet gun.  Luckily, no one was injured.  Motive is unknown.

From an article:

Police tell the Telegram & Gazette that a 10-year-old boy sitting next to the window that was struck said he felt something strike the side of his head, but paramedics did not find he had any injury. 

School safety liaison Robert Pezella said the elementary school bus carrying 18 students was two stops from the end of its route when it was struck. He said the students were frightened, and parents came to pick them up. 

Police said the bus driver was unaware of what happened. 

Police said a witness told officers a man pointed an object at the bus, and the window shattered. The man reportedly ran away.

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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.

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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15-year old Boston boy charged with shooting death

A 15-year old boy, Raymond M. Concepcion, in Boston, Massachussetts has been charged with shooting and killing a man in another vehicle.

From an article:

The incident started at 6:44 p.m. when, according to witnesses, a male got out of a vehicle stopped in traffic near 85 Southampton St., walked up to a car that was also stopped in traffic about two or three cars ahead, and fired into that vehicle. 

The gunman then returned to the car and got in the back seat. According to Suffolk prosecutor Jennifer Hickman, Hill was driving and Johnson was in the front passenger’s seat. 

A Boston police detective was nearby and heard the gunfire. The detective, in his cruiser, pursued the suspects’ vehicle, and had managed to trap it in traffic momentarily, before cars ahead moved and the suspects’ vehicle took off. 

A state trooper then started pursuing the vehicle and stopped it on the Southeast Expressway near the Columbia Road off-ramp. The three suspects were taken into custody at gunpoint.

The article didn't say where the boy got the gun.

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

17 year old Massachusetts boy shot by brother

David Wade, age 17

There seem to be quite a number of 17 year olds involved in shootings as reported on this blog. This latest is from the state of Massachusetts where a 17 year old was shot and killed by his 21 year old brother who had just purchased his new gun:

Members of the Stoughton High School football team put on their uniforms for practice Monday afternoon – but one person was noticeably missing.

It was the team’s first practice since the tragic shooting death of David Wade, a 17-year-old senior and defensive back football player, over the weekend.

Wade was accidentally shot in the chest with a .40-caliber gun by his 21-year-old brother in their Turnpike Street home shortly before 3:27 p.m. Saturday, authorities said. (...) 

“There were definitely a lot of emotions,” said Miller, who addressed roughly 1,150 students about Wade’s death through the school’s news feed Monday morning.

Several students, including senior Dwayne Patterson, wrote the number 56 on their wrists in red marker to commemorate Wade’s football number.

“It’s tragic to lose someone like that. You always found him with a smile on his face, no matter what. He was a great kid,” said senior Mauro Oliveira, 18.

Monday’s lunchtime was much quieter than usual, Oliveira said. Students were also noticeably silent in the hallways, he said.

“A lot of people were crying,” said senior Angela Garcia, 17, who has known Wade since middle school.

Garcia said she and other students are making a poster with messages and photographs for Wade’s family that will be brought to Friday’s football game.

A candlelight vigil was held Sunday night outside Wade’s home, students said. A Mass was held at St. James Catholic Church Sunday night for grieving members of the community.

Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey’s office said the shooting remains under investigation. No one has been charged. Results of an autopsy performed Monday came back undetermined pending further testing, said David Traub, spokesman for Morrissey.

Authorities said Saturday Wade was shot in the chest in his parents’ basement by a 21-year-old brother who had recently obtained a gun license.

Shootings have a ripple affect. Many are affected and will never be the same after this senseless accidental shooting.

Two Massachusetts teens shot frozen yogurt customers with Airsoft guns

Shooters Benjamin Warren, 18, and Lewis Carrera, 17

18-year old Benjamin Warren and his 17-year old friend, Lewis Carrera, thought it would be funny to drive in Andover, Massachusetts and shoot at people with an Airsoft pellet gun.  They drove by a frozen yogurt shot and opened fire, hitting four people and terrorizing all the customers. One of the teens had been fired from the establishment.

Luckily, no one was seriously injured.

From an article:

The owner of the Orange Leaf frozen yogurt shop in Andover said one of the suspects used to work at the shop before he was fired. 

Two victims who say they were hit by the pellets spoke out Friday. They say they were sitting outside the shop Thursday night when they felt a strange sensation and realized they had been hit by a pellet gun. 

“It was just a little sting. Nothing too severe but it could have been if someone was hit in the eye,” said Alec Sullivan. 

Police say the suspects, armed with an air-soft pellet gun, shot four people outside of the yogurt shop -- and one person sitting outside the Bertucci’s restaurant just around the corner. 

“Apparently the one kids was hanging out of the window of the car. Nobody really saw what he was holding. They were just yelling,” said Dave Pierre, yogurt shop owner. 

Police say 18-year-old Benjamin Warren of Andover -- a former employee of the yogurt shop -- was behind the wheel and 17-year-old Lewis Carrera also of Andover, was in the passenger seat. 

During the teens’ arraignment, prosecutors described a chilling interaction between investigators and one of the suspects. 

“He spoke with Mr. Warren and did note that he was uncooperative, that during his interaction with him he made a comment about Batman but when asked to elaborate, denied saying anything and began to laugh,” said Kimberly Gillespie, prosecutor. 

The victims were not seriously injured.

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

7-year old girl killed and 9-year old brother injured by father in murder/suicide in Massachusetts

Owen and Abigail Benway, ages 9 and 7

A 7-year old girl, Abigail Benway, was found shot to death in a home in Oxford, Massachusetts.  Her father, 41-year old Daryl Benway, was also found shot to death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  Abigail's 9-year old brother, Owen, was also found shot in the head, but alive.  He is now in critical condition.

Daryl Benway had recently separated from his wife, Kelleen, the mother of the two children with him.

Daryl had no previous criminal record, and he had a conceal carry permit that expired in 1999.

From an article:

A man who had recently separated from his wife shot his two children, killing his 7-year-old daughter, before committing suicide, prosecutors said. 

A family member called police Saturday night after finding the bodies of 41-year-old Daryl Benway and his daughter, Abigail, in the master bedroom of their two-story Oxford home, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said. 

Benway's 9-year-old son, Owen, was found shot in the head in the kitchen and was taken to UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center in serious condition. Owen has been in pediatric intensive care, a spokesman for Early said Sunday. He said he had no additional information about Owen Benway's condition, and a hospital spokeswoman would not comment. 

Benway's wife, Kelleen, returned home after the shootings, unaware of what had happened, and found a swarm of police cruisers and television crews, Early said. She was taken to the children's hospital, where authorities told her the fates of her children and husband.

(a related article, with the family photo via Facebook).

16-year old girl shot and injured in road rage incident in Massachusetts

A 16-year old Maine girl was shot and injured in a road-rage incident in Merrimac, Massachusetts.

From an article:

A 16-year-old Maine girl who was shot during a road-rage incident is home with her family, after being released from Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport, where she was taken after the shooting on Interstate 495 Sunday. State Police reported the teenager’s release from the hospital Monday as they requested the public’s help in tracking down the shooter. Police believe that the shooter was a passenger in a white Honda that was being driven by a woman wearing sunglasses. The shooter was described by State Police as a man with short hair who was wearing a gray T-shirt and sunglasses. He allegedly fired three rounds into the 2002 Nissan XTerra being driven by the Maine girl’s family. The shooting happened at 12:17 p.m. in Merrimac. Police believe the highway was filled with drivers at that time, some of whom may have seen the events leading up to the gunfire.

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16-year old girl killed and 17-year old girl injured in Massachusetts drive-by shooting

Charlene Holmes, age 16

16-year old Charlene Holmes was walking with her older sister on a sidewalk in Cambridge, Massachussetts, when a car drove by and someone inside opened fire at the residence they were walking past.  A bullet struck Charlene, killing her.

From an article:

In a moving tribute in a park across the street from the spot where Holmes was shot, friends and family held red, pink, and white balloons as a woman sang. As the song concluded, Hall said, “We love you,’’ and friends and family members released the balloons into the evening sky as many sobbed.

A man who identified himself only as Holmes’s father, screamed out for someone to help. “I saw my daughter die on this sidewalk,’’ he said. “She died in my arms. And I’m asking for your help. Please, help me.’’

The man then quickly went to his home on Willow Street, and family members said he was not available for comment.

....
School officials said in a statement that Holmes was involved in numerous extracurricular activities, including softball and track. She was also involved in a youth leadership program and in antibullying initiatives.
....

Cindy Rodriguez, 21, next-door neighbor to Holmes, expressed shock at the death of her lifelong friend.

“Her eyes said it all: She’d walk by, just look at you, and she kind of brightened up your day, just with her eyes,’’ Rodriguez said.

Nearby, 17-year old Thanialee Cotto-Felix was sitting on her porch with a male teen when a bullet hit her, as well.  She is now in critical condition.

Cotto-Felix, who also attended Cambridge Rindge & Latin School, was preparing for her graduation Thursday. She is also involved in the youth leadership program and has worked in a relative’s restaurant to help support her family, the statement said. She is planning to attend Newbury College.

Police say they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, but also describe the shooting as "not a random act."

Neither shooting victim lived at 34-36 Willow. According to Cambridge police records, officers have responded to the address at least 10 times in the past two years, for incidents ranging from domestic disputes to drug possession with intent to distribute, to warrant arrests.

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17-year old Massachusetts youth brought Airsoft gun to school and used it to threaten

A 17-year old brought a realistic-looking Airsoft handgun to school, in Reading, Massachusetts, apparently using it to threaten another person.

From the article:

Reading Police were notified by school officials that a former high school student reportedly showed up on school grounds on March 29 carrying what appeared to be a hand gun. After a subsequent investigation, the gun was located and turned out to be a replica air soft gun of a real Sig Sauer hand gun.   

The 17-year-old Reading youth was arrested and charged with carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds, possession of an air soft pistol under 18, threatening to commit a crime, trespassing, intimidation of a witness, possession of alcohol and possession of a class c substance. 

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

15-year old Falmouth, Massachusetts boy brought gun to school

A 15-year old boy brought  an unloaded .380-caliber Colt semi-automatic pistol to school with him, which he had taken from his father's locked gunbox.  The parent was a conceal carry license holder. 

From the article:

The boy admitted to carrying a .38-caliber pistol, police said. The gun was not loaded, and the boy did not have any ammunition, police said. An initial investigation found that the boy took the gun from a relative without permission. The relative’s license to carry firearms has been suspended, pending the result of a full investigation, police said. The student, whose name was not released, was booked on charges of carrying a firearm on school grounds and carrying a firearm without a license.

From another article:

Captain Edward A. Dunne, Patrolman Andrew Loewen, and a uniformed patrolman went to the high school and pulled the student out of class. Chief Riello said that when the suspect was asked about the gun, he admitted to having it on his person.

The chief said the boy admitted he had been carrying the gun in school “for a couple days.”

The weapon was cocked but unloaded at the time of the arrest. The firearm is comparable to a nine-millimeter handgun and has a total capacity of seven bullets—six in the magazine and one in the chamber.

Chief Riello said that the student has no criminal record.

....
Over the course of the investigation, police learned that the student had acquired the gun at home after somehow obtaining the key to the weapon’s lockbox.

The suspect’s father, who is “duly licensed” to carry firearms, Chief Riello said, owned the pistol and an additional, undetermined number of firearms. All of his weapons were confiscated by police this morning along with the father’s firearms permit—all with the father’s cooperation, the chief added.

The suspect was booked on charges of possession of a firearm without an FID (firearms identification) card and possession of a firearm on school grounds. The boy was booked this morning, but as of press time police did not know if the boy was being held in custody or had been returned to his parents.

Pro-gun activists like to claim that locking a gun is enough to keep it out of children's hands, but most teens, when questioned away from parents, admit that they are able to get the key or know the combination.

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

16-year old boy killed in apparant accidental shooting in Massachussets

Kyle Louzada, age 16

16-year old Kyle Louzada was found shot to death from a single bullet wound outside of his Randolph, Massachusetts home, in an apparent accident.

From the article:

The teen’s family told 7News that the shooting was a horrible accident.

“The initial story is that he was playing with a friend’s gun and it went off,” said Steven, the victim’s cousin.

Investigators said the teen was shot inside his Oak Street home, but officers found his body at the corner of Oak Street and Tangen Street.

“Yeah, right now it sounds like an accident happened, a couple of young kids panicked,” said Steven.
....
Kyle’s mother is left to cope with yet another family loss.

“Our family’s been going through some stuff right now. This is actually the second son she’s lost in two years,” said Steven. “Really, Kyle was a good kid. He never got in trouble, except for some school work. He was a really good kid. Real polite to everyone.”

Police said they interviewed everyone who was inside the home and no one was arrested. It is still unclear how or why Kyle’s body was brought from inside the home to the street.

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

UPDATE (12/23/12):  Kyle was shot once in the head, in the basement of his home with three friends.  At this time it has not been conclusively determined whether it was a suicide, homicide, or accident.

14-year old Massachusetts boy brought BB gun to school

A 14-year old boy was caught with a BB gun on school in Fall River, Massachusetts.  This was the third report like this for that school so far this school year.

From the article:

[Police spokesman] LaFleur said the student was arrested around 7:45 a.m. as he walked toward Durfee. A witness who had allegedly seen the boy waving and pointing a black gun at people in the parking lot at the corner of Elsbree Street and President Avenue pointed him out. LaFleur said that when police confronted the boy, he shouted that he had only a BB gun in his backpack.

The student, LaFleur said, told police that he had the BB gun “to play a joke” on a friend who was waiting at a County Street bus stop. LaFleur said the friend and two other people were allegedly shot with BBs.

....
This is the third report of a student being charged in a BB-related incident this school year.

In October, a student at the Alfred Letourneau Elementary School was charged with possessing a BB gun after allegedly shooting two students.

Less than a week later, two Edmond P. Talbot Middle School students were charged with firing BB guns at kids while playing after school.

....

“I’m deeply concerned whether or not students understand BB guns are weapons,” [the superintendent] said. “In each of the three cases the students seem to perceive that they’re just having fun.”

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

Two 12-year old boys arrested for having Airsoft guns in Tiverton, MA

Two 12-year old boys were arrested for felony firearms possession in the city limits of Tiverton, Massachusetts.

From the article:

Police received a report that afternoon of a boy walking on Main Road near Pocasset School with a firearm, according to Lt. Patrick Jones. Officers arrived on scene and found three boys in possession of a replica .357 or .44 magnum revolver, which turned out to be an air soft gun owned by one of the boys. 

Jones said one of the youths hid the replica in a shrub. Police also recovered a rifle with a scope on it, which was also a replica owned by another youth.

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

15-year old girl shoots boy with BB gun in Massachusetts

From the article:

A 15-year-old girl was arrested Wednesday after police say she shot a boy with a BB gun.

The boy told police he was walking home from the Bridgewater Middle School, traveling on Mount Prospect Street with a friend, when two girls began yelling, according to a police report by Officer Matthew Snow.

The boy told police the girls, whom they knew, yelled “get off my block,” and then he heard a snapping sound and felt a pain in his right biceps.

The boys immediately ran to a nearby fire station to report the incident, which is when police were called around 3 p.m., according to the report.

After Snow and other police took the boys to the home to identify the shooter, a 15-year-old girl was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. The girl, whose name was not released by police because she is a juvenile, was released into the custody of her mother.

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

15-year old shot by father, who then shot himself

Police in Plymouth, Massachusetts, responded to what appears to be an attempted murder/suicide. A 15-year old boy, named Shawn, was found critically injured with a gunshot to his upper body on the lawn of his home, shot by his father.

His father, 53-year old Richard Panepinto, was found in the driveway with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.

The two were taken to different area hospitals and are both in critical condition.

From the article:

Neighbors say they heard three shots. They came out of their houses, look out of their windows, and saw several police cars lining the street.

FOX 25's Tyisha Fernandes talked to one neighbor who was outside right after the shooting. He said he helped the son right after he got shot. The neighbor said there have been some problems in the past between the father and son.

Panepinto was arrested on assault and battery charges in 2007 after he brutally beat his wife with a baseball bat and a portable television. He avoided jail time because his wife refused to testify against him. Instead, he received three years probation.