A Mattapan teen will be arraigned tomorrow on charges in the death of his 9-year-old brother who was shot and killed Friday morning, Suffolk district attorney’s office said.
Boston Police believe the unidentified 14-year-old, whose name was not released because of his age, was playing with the firearm “recklessly” when it fired and struck his brother in the chest.
Boston police officers responded to a call for a person shot in the area of 617 Morton Street before noon on Friday, a school day.
The nine-year-old was taken to Boston Medical Center, suffering from a gunshot wound, where he was pronounced dead, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley’s office said.
Early evidence indicates no one in the family knew the teenager had a gun, the DA’s office said in a statement.
The 14-year-old defendant, who was arrested walking away from the scene still carrying the gun, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm, Conley’s office said.
Boston Police Commissioner William B. Evans told Boston Globe reporters at the scene that both boys were home with an older sister and that their mother was not home at the time of the shooting.
“Upon preliminary investigation, we believe that it was an accidental shooting, but unfortunately, we have [a young boy] dead at the scene,’’ Evans said, choking up. “It’s a terrible, terrible incident for the family involved here. … Obviously, the mother is extremely distraught.’’
Evans told the Globe he did bot believe the defendant was trying to flee.
“I think he panicked here,’’ Evans said. “I think he realized the gravity of what he had done. And he was very cooperative with the officer.”
Mayor Marty Walsh called the death a terrible tragedy.
“An 11-year-old boy should not be shot on a late Friday morning. He should be in school. His 14-year-old brother should not be in a situation where he has access to a gun — whether it was horseplay or whatever the circumstances,” Walsh told Herald reporters on scene.
District Attorney Conley is asking the public to help police in reducing guns.
“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 a statement.“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.”
Press release from Boston Police Department:
Per Suffolk County District Dan Conley, a 14 year-old boy has been charged in the shooting death of his 9 year-old brother. The youth, whose name is not being released because of his age, will be arraigned next week on charges of Involuntary Manslaughter and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.
The shooting incident remains under investigation by Boston Police Homicide Detectives and the Suffolk DA’s office.
At about 11:37am, on Friday, February 7, 2014, Boston Police Officers responded to a call for a person shot in the area of 617 Morton Street. On arrival, officers found a 9 year-old boy suffering from a gunshot wound. The boy was rushed to Boston Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. The 14 year-old defendant was apprehended a short time later with what authorities say is the firearm that killed his brother.
Based on evidence at the scene and statements by individuals including the juvenile, investigators believe the boy was handling the firearm recklessly when it discharged. The evidence at this stage does not suggest that any other person in the juvenile’s home knew he possessed the firearm. The victim’s identity is also being withheld until full family notifications can be made.
“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.”
The juvenile will be arraigned Monday in the Juvenile Session of Dorchester Municipal Court. That hearing will not be open to the public.
