An 11-year-old boy has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly shooting a 3-year-old boy to death in Detroit on Monday.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutors Office, the incident occurred when the 11-year-old, who isn’t being identified because he is a minor, was visiting his father’s house on Detroit’s east side. The boy took a handgun from a bedroom closet and threw it out the window into the backyard.
The juvenile proceeded to pick up the gun and got into a car parked in the backyard, where the 3-year-old joined him. Shortly after, the child was shot in the face when the gun went off. While it’s unclear what exactly transpired between the two, police say the boys were “playing with” the weapon when it fired. The 11-year-old now faces a manslaughter charge and an additional felony firearm charge.
“I cannot remember a time where we have charged someone so young with taking a life. Very unfortunately and very tragically, the alleged facts in this case demanded it,” Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement. “The charged respondent here will remain in the Juvenile system, but the case remains under investigation. As a result of that, I will not say more at this time.”
The boy was held on $5,000 bond and appeared in court for a preliminary hearing in the Juvenile Detention Center on Wednesday afternoon.
