DETROIT (WWJ) -- A 16-year-old Detroit boy is facing charges after police say he shot his younger cousin in the arm Monday night.
The 12-year-old victim was reported to be in stable condition after what investigators described an accidental shooting at a home in the 18800 block of St. Aubin, near 7 Mile and Dequindre roads.
Detroit Police Capt. Derrick Griffin said adults and other children were inside the house at the time of the shooting, shortly before 10 p.m. on Nov. 25. He said the teen was handling the gun when it went off, and police responded quickly to a 911 call.
"The officers arrived, through their training they applied a tourniquet to the 12-year-old victim. The victim was transported to the hospital by a medic unit where they are receiving treatment," Griffin said.
The 16-year-old was arrested at the scene and taken to the Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility, where he was booked on one count of Careless Discharge of Firearm Causing Injury.
Griffin said K-9 teams found the gun in the backyard of the home, but it wasn't immediately known who owns the weapon.
Griffin wants to remind all gun owners to lock up their guns when kids are around, so these types of incidents do not continue to happen.
It's the law.
"The 16-year-old gained access to the firearm, which resulted in this 12-year-old being shot," Griffin said. "I can say that this is another incident where we have a child shot in the City of Detroit, and my message to everyone who is a gun owner: Please secure your firearm; we care and we love the children."
Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said the teen appeared for a preliminary hearing at the Juvenile Detention Facility Tuesday afternoon. He received a $500/10% bond with the conditions that he does not posses any firearms or use illegal drugs.
A pretrial hearing in the case was scheduled for Jan. 15, via Zoom.
No names have been released.
