A shocking New York child shooting has left one young boy dead and another charged with murder, underscoring the growing concerns about youth violence and access to firearms.
Police in Newburgh, about 60 miles north of New York City, arrested a 13-year-old boy for second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old inside a home on North Miller Street. Officers responded around 8 a.m. Thursday and discovered the victim dead from a gunshot wound, according to the Newburgh Police Department.
Authorities quickly launched an investigation involving the City of Newburgh Detective Division and the Non-Fatal Shooting Task Force. A firearm was recovered at the scene, and within 12 hours, the 13-year-old suspect — who was not related to the victim — was taken into custody.
FOX 5 New York reported that the 11-year-old was shot in the head while children were playing with a firearm.
“The loss of one young life and the arrest of another is an unimaginable tragedy, one that deeply affects our entire school community,” said Dr. J. Manning Campbell, superintendent of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. “Two children, full of potential, now represent devastating losses in different ways.”
Campbell added that grief counseling and support services are being made available to students and staff. “Please do not hesitate to reach out. No one should carry this pain alone,” he said.
The tragedy has reignited debate over juvenile crime and gun safety — an increasingly urgent issue in communities across America.
