WHEATON (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A suburban boy is back home with his family after he was arrested for killing his friend yesterday.
Earlier today, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin and Bensenville Chief of Police Dan Schulze announced that a 14-year-old boy has been charged with shooting and killing a 13-year-old friend.
The juvenile appeared at a detention hearing this morning where Judge Robert Anderson ordered the juvenile be released to the custody of his parents on home detention.
The 14-year-old was allegedly playing with a gun inside a Bensenville home when it fired and hit his friend in the head. The boy died and the 14-year-old was charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless discharge of a gun and reckless conduct. He will be on home detention until his next court date later this month.
“Any loss of life to gun violence is indeed a tragedy. What makes this case a particularly bitter pill to swallow for the entire community is that the victim was a 13 year-old boy," Schulze said. "I would like to thank the responding officers and investigators in this horrible incident as well as the State’s Attorney’s Office for their guidance."
Prosecutors said the boy and his three friends were playing with multiple firearms they found unlocked in the home. Attorney Berlin said the tragedy should be a reminder to parents to lock up their weapons.
"This heartbreaking turn of events should serve as a reminder to parents to lock up their weapons and keep them out of reach from their children," Berlin said. "I offer my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of this young boy who senselessly lost his life yesterday afternoon."