The scene has been described as "one that nightmares are made of" by local sheriff Chad Chronister. Eyewitnesses report that the child chased his mother through the neighborhood with a firearm before taking her life.
From UPI:
Dispatch received a call from a neighbor about a young Black male running through the neighborhood with a firearm. Deputies confronted the child and negotiated his surrender for about 16 minutes.
At several points, he put the gun to his head and threatened to shoot himself, according to Chronister.
The deputies eventually convinced the child to put the gun on the ground. Later, he attempted to grab the gun. The officers launched a 40 mm projectile at him from about 40 yards away, hitting him in the hand and torso, which Chronister described as a "less lethal option."
The child was ultimately convinced to put his hands in the air and walk toward the deputies. He was then taken into custody without incident.
Officers meanwhile discovered an adult male inside the residence with gunshot wounds to the hands, torso and face. Chronister said it appeared that a bullet traveled through his hands and hit him in the face.
A couple of houses down from the residence, the suspect's mother was found dead from a gunshot wound in the driveway.
According to the suspect's older brother who witnessed part of the incident, he was in his room when he heard his mother and her boyfriend arguing. He then heard gunshots and came out of his room to see what was happening. The suspect aimed the gun at him but he fled the home.
Chronister said he believes the suspect shot the boyfriend, then chased his mother to the driveway a couple houses away.
Hearing about this type of violence, especially from someone so young, is absolutely heartbreaking and disturbing.
You can't help but wonder about the conditions this child has endured to make him behave in such a violent manner.
