11-year-old Cleveland boy shoots his 8-year-old brother, police say

[RaVen Blackehart]

"CLEVELAND — As Joan Hicks watched television in her basement Friday morning, the two grandsons left in her care when her daughter went to prison found a gun and decided to play a game they called "Gangster."

The pop of the .25-caliber handgun sent Hicks racing upstairs at 9:10 a.m. where she found the 8-year-old boy bleeding from a gunshot wound to his side. His 11-year-old brother had shot him, police said.

The boys found the gun in Hicks' car but family members said it was not hers. It belonged to the boys' aunt, they said, and it was unclear why it was in the car or how the boys found it.

Officers arrested the older boy for felonious assault. He was held at the Juvenile Detention Center. Hicks faces a charge of failing to secure a deadly weapon, police said. Cops seized two other .45-caliber handguns from the home.

The victim was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center. The bullet entered and exited the boy's body, and the wound wasn't considered life-threatening, police said.

Hicks wanted to take the youngster to the hospital herself as minutes passed before an ambulance arrived, according to a recording of the 9-1-1 call. An EMS dispatcher warned her not to move the boy.

Hicks became irate during the call, screaming at the 11-year-old boy when the dispatcher asked what type of gun was used.

"Where is the gun?" Hicks screamed. "Where is the gun? You got it. I told you. I done begged you..."

Hicks said the boy stole the gun from her car.

"Oh Jesus," Hicks screamed during the call. "Why would you do some stupid stuff like this? I never would have knew. You took that gun out of my car. Oh Lord, have mercy on my soul. On my grandson. Oh Lord."

She then cried and screamed: "I try so hard. I do everything I can."

Hicks took custody of the boys after their mother, Kimmie Hicks, was sentenced to four years in prison last month for beating the boys with an ax handle in a grocery-store parking lot."............KEEP READING

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008...oy_shoots.html

[DarkPrincess]

It seems like it was an accident. I'd say the gun should not be in the car, but it is Cleveland.

[flawed_existence]

Well okay, Grandma doesn't know about trigger locks and stuff like that. I can see how this situation could have happened. But bottom line, Grandma probably shouldn't have custody of these children in the first place. Eleven and eight are great ages, but boys have a lot of energy and it takes a lot of diligence to keep up with them.

And anyway, after living with an abusive mother, shouldn't these kids be in theraputic foster care? Home cookin' and Grandma's loving arms are wonderful, but it really does take more than love to repair the damage of abuse.

[crickett]

It sounds like an accident unless there is something missing in this story. The older boy is probably already blaming himself. He probably already suffers from low self esteem. Most abused children do. He shouldn't have been sent to Juvie. He's only 11. I worry about his psychological well being not to mention his physical well being while in Juvie.

[MadmamainNC]

He said his ex-wife kept the guns to protect the five houses she owns on Montgomery Avenue. He did not know how or where she stored the weapons. He added that both boys cause trouble like all young kids but treat him well and are good students.

He questioned why the boys were not in school Friday but said he was not angry with his ex-wife because the boys found the guns.

"Kids are gonna be kids," Hicks said. "Kids get into things you don't think they can get into."

Gee Grandpa...You think??? That's what locks are for.

OK.. 3 guns in the house? How many guns does your household have?
Thought the vacuum question on the other thread was a silly one.

I don't think they should put that child in juvy. Scare the shit out of him but don't ruin him. It wasn't done in malice.

[jenthgr8]

Sounds to me like a pretty fucked up accident. I agree, the kid doesn't deserve to go to juvie, but he does deserve to have grandma or grandpa beat the ever loving shit out of him, to teach him a very important lesson about playing with weapons.

[Lynntoast]

People are jumping all over this grandmother at the bottom of this article. I don't know... she owns 5 houses she has to check up on frequently. Probably in not too nice of neighborhoods also... I think I'd keep a gun loaded and ready too! She should have kept the CAR locked up and the keys hidden really well though.