TheLostBoys
Bluelighter
Detectives seized more than a half-million dollars, weapons and drugs from a 14-year-old's home where they said he recently shot and killed a friend.
Surprise police said on Wednesday the incident is not a clear case of an accidental shooting and the teen is being held in jail for at least the next two weeks. His name has been withheld because he is a juvenile.
Juan Vergara, 14, died on Sept. 16, the day after he was shot in the home near Bell and Reems roads, according to Surprise police.
The discovery by police of $500,000, numerous weapons and marijuana was revealed during a hearing in Phoenix juvenile court on Wednesday.
The state also revealed it seized more than $1 million from the parents' bank accounts.
At this time, the juvenile faces one charge of negligent homicide. He was playing with a .22-caliber handgun when it fired, the bullet striking Vergara in the head, police said. He tested positive for marijuana, evidence showed.
During the hearing, the father admitted he and his son had smoked marijuana.
A social worker recommended the juvenile remain in detention and said it would not be in his best interest to be released to his parents.
The victim's brother, David Moreno, asked the judge to keep the juvenile in custody. Moreno said releasing him would "pour salt in their hearts."
The juvenile and his father apologized during the hearing. "I'm so very sorry, and all I can do is say I'm sorry," the teen said.
"Juan was like a son to me," the father said. "We're praying for their family."
Judge Dawn Bergin ordered the teen remain in detention and that the state Child Protective Services investigate the home. A hearing is set for Oct. 13.
Link: http://www.kpho.com/news/25212959/detail.html
Surprise police said on Wednesday the incident is not a clear case of an accidental shooting and the teen is being held in jail for at least the next two weeks. His name has been withheld because he is a juvenile.
Juan Vergara, 14, died on Sept. 16, the day after he was shot in the home near Bell and Reems roads, according to Surprise police.
The discovery by police of $500,000, numerous weapons and marijuana was revealed during a hearing in Phoenix juvenile court on Wednesday.
The state also revealed it seized more than $1 million from the parents' bank accounts.
At this time, the juvenile faces one charge of negligent homicide. He was playing with a .22-caliber handgun when it fired, the bullet striking Vergara in the head, police said. He tested positive for marijuana, evidence showed.
During the hearing, the father admitted he and his son had smoked marijuana.
A social worker recommended the juvenile remain in detention and said it would not be in his best interest to be released to his parents.
The victim's brother, David Moreno, asked the judge to keep the juvenile in custody. Moreno said releasing him would "pour salt in their hearts."
The juvenile and his father apologized during the hearing. "I'm so very sorry, and all I can do is say I'm sorry," the teen said.
"Juan was like a son to me," the father said. "We're praying for their family."
Judge Dawn Bergin ordered the teen remain in detention and that the state Child Protective Services investigate the home. A hearing is set for Oct. 13.
Link: http://www.kpho.com/news/25212959/detail.html
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