13-year-old boy shot in face, killed playing with gun in backyard
PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Ceasefire organization is planning a vigil Thursday evening to honor a 13-year-old boy shot and killed in the Germantown section.
Family, friends and anti-gun-violence advocates will gather at 5 p.m. in the unit block of East Walnut Lane.
Police officers were called to the backyard of a home on that block around 5:20 p.m. Wednesday.
They found the teenage boy unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound to the face.
He was rushed to Einstein Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 6 p.m.
"I was the first one to walk back there," said Slide Huntley, family friend.
Huntley tells us he found his friend's 13-year-old son clinging to life.
"It was gory, very graphic, words can't explain it," said Huntley. "He was too young to die. He didn't deserve it. He minds his business, goes to school."
Police believe several teens were playing with the gun before it discharged.
Detectives combed through the backyard of the home. The weapon police believe was involved in the incident has been recovered.
Action News was there as family members processed the grim news.
"It was unbelievable," said Shalif Morales, neighbor. "It was the first time I ever heard somebody get shot."
At this time, no word on how the teens got the gun or why they were playing with it.
"What was the gun doing in the backyard? It's so irresponsible. You're gonna ask the question: Where were the parents?" said Colwin Williams of CeaseFire PA.
"But at the same time," he continued, "you have neighborhood thugs stashing guns around. You don't know where your child is. If they're out to play innocently, and they get their hands on these fire weapons, the next thing you know they're hurt."
Police sources tell Action News the boy who was holding the gun when it went off turned himself in Wednesday night, but because of his age, no further details could be released.
