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Chicago boy, 10, detained after shooting at cops during SWAT standoff: police
The gun used during the standoff was legally owned but left unsecured.
nypost.com
Chicago boy, 10, detained after shooting at cops during SWAT standoff: police
By
Snejana Farberov
July 25, 2023 10:13am
A 10-year-old Chicago boy in “mental distress” got ahold of an unsecured gun inside his home and shot at police officers during a SWAT standoff, according to officials.
The pint-size gunman was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for evaluation after the incident Monday in the Windy City’s Beverly neighborhood.
Cops responded to a home in the 9800 block of South Charles Street around 11:20 a.m. for a call about a child in distress, reported ABC 7 Chicago.
When officers approached the house, they found the boy standing on the porch and pointing a gun at them, police said during an afternoon press conference.
Cops fired non-lethal projectiles at the house, leading the boy to retreat inside, where he allegedly fired four rounds, according to CBS Chicago.
Heavily armed Chicago SWAT officers at the scene of a shooting involving a 10-year-old gunman Monday.WLS-TV Police were called to a home in the Beverly section for a report of a child in mental distress.AP
The youngster later went back outside and allegedly fired one shot at the officers.
The child also reportedly pointed the loaded firearm at himself several times during the tense standoff.
Because of the shooter’s age and apparently fragile mental state, officers deployed beanbag rounds and pepper spray to subdue him, police said.
The 10-year-old allegedly got ahold of an unsecured gun and fired multiple shots, including one at police officers, during a standoff. AP
The young gunman allegedly pointed the firearm at himself before cops used beanbags and pepper spray to subdue him.AP
“He’s a child, so that’s what’s in our mind when we have discussions of what’s the next step, so definitely his age and the distress he’s in, very important for any incident but this one in particular because it was very delicate,” Chicago Police Deputy Chief Migdalia Bulnes said.
No officers were injured during the incident, which caused the neighborhood to be placed on lockdown.
The gun fired during the standoff was legally owned by someone living at the home but it was left unsecured, according to Chicago Alderman Matt O’Shea.
The 10-year-old was unharmed but was taken to a hospital for evaluation in good condition. WLS-TV
“We have what I would describe as a happy ending, but people just need to be more careful when you’re going to have weapons in homes,” said O’Shea.
Cops are investigating how the 10-year-old was able to access the gun.
It was not immediately known whether charges would be filed.