By DANIEL HERATY
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – Police are investigating a July 9 shooting involving an 11-year-old boy at a house in the 19000 block of Venice.
A 17-year-old boy was charged by Wayne County Prosecutor’s Kym Worthy with reckless use of a firearm, a misdemeanor carrying a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail. He was released on $200 bond, with no court date set at press time.
Officials at the Police Separtment are classifying the incident as an accident. Police Lt. Neil Myers said it started as “horseplay.”
The victim, who was shot in the hip, was taken to Children’s Hospital of Michigan and treated. It is unclear what relation the boys are to each other, but police spokesman Detective Ken Muscat said they knew each other. The victim, Muscat said, will need some followup care, but his injuries are not life-threatening.
The gun, a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, belonged to the victim’s mother and was properly registered with authorities. She is not expected to be charged, Muscat said.
In a statement, Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said the incident should serve as a warning to gun owners that they must take responsibility for their weapons.
“The safety and securing of a weapon needs to be the highest priority to all gun owners,” he said.
(Daniel Heraty can be reached at [email protected])