(CBS DETROIT) – A 16-year-old boy was taken into custody in Detroit on Thursday after police say he shot a 14-year-old in the head, leaving his own mother injured.
The shooting happened in the 800 block of Delaware Street just before 6 p.m. According to police, the 14-year-old is in extremely critical condition. The mother was shot in the arm.
Assistant Police Chief Charles Fitzgerald says the shooting was the result of an argument between a group of children. Fitzgerald says a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old were exchanging words when a 13-year-old, who is related, tried to break up the fight.
“The 8-year-old runs back to his house and grabs his 14-year-old relative along with his mother. When they come back to the area, there are the 13-year-old and 14-year-old kind swaying back and forth,” he said. “…A 16-year-old boy walks by. Mom tries to stop him. He pulls out a gun and starts shooting.”
The 16-year-old was arrested after running past one of DPD’s undercover operations investigating a separate incident. Another person was arrested after he tried to pick up the gun and run away with it.
Police say the 16-year-old and 13-year-old are cousins. It is not known how the teenager obtained the weapon.
“Just the fact that he brought a gun to an argument between a six- and eight-year-old and thought it was the right thing to do,” Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald says the 16-year-old asked for his mother after he was arrested.
