Teen charged in accidental shooting of girl, 14, in Grand Crossing

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 17-year-old boy was charged with a felony in the accidental shooting of his friend in her home in Chicago's Grand Crossing neighborhood.

Relatives of Jasmine Snipe, 14, said she is expected to remain at Comer Children's Hospital for at least two more days.

Her brother, Tidrick Gilmore, said she had two friends over Tuesday afternoon. One of them was the 17-year-old boy, who had brought the house in the 7100-block of South Ingleside Avenue. The boy was holding the gun when it went off around 3:30 p.m. Snipe was shot in the neck.

"My sister indicated it was an accident. He didn't intentionally try to do it. He was showing off the gun. He shouldn't have had the gun in the house in the first place," Gilmore said.

There were several people in the house when the shooting occurred. Latalia Cunningham, a neighbor, called 911.

"When I realized it was too far up, I'm like, 'Oh, we shouldn't move her.' I kind of freaked out, you know?" Cunningham said.

Snipe was taken to Comer in critical condition, where her condition stabilized. The boy allegedly ran from the scene.

"He was real scared about it. He was here for her when it happened, but he was just really scared. I think that's why he ran. Because it took place and he should have never had the gun," Gilmore said.

The teen's grandmother reached out to community activist Andrew Holmes, who said he convinced the teen to turn himself in.

"Just one of those things. A gun inside the house when it really shouldn't have been there, plus a person that had a weapon in their hand that shouldn't have. This is what happened," Holmes said. "I let him know your life is not over. You can go through this process and put things behind you and get on with your future just as well as the young lady that's in the hospital. I hope she has a speedy recovery because she has a bright future ahead of her too."

Gilmore said his family isn't angry with the 17-year-old boy. They said they don't know who the gun belonged to.

The teen was arrested and charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm. He appeared in juvenile court Thursday.