KOKOMO, Ind. — A 14-year-old was arrested Wednesday evening after a shooting that injured an 18-year-old in Kokomo, police said.
The shooting was reported around 9:30 p.m. June 12 near the intersection of East State and South Waugh streets, in the Fairlawn neighborhood.
Responding Kokomo Police Department officers found an 18-year-old with a gunshot wound. He was described as "stable" when flown to an Indianapolis hospital.
The shooting has neighbors saddened and frustrated.
"Why do kids got guns? I don't know. It don't feel good. It don't feel nice at all. It honestly makes me sick," Starlasha Prater said. "I don't want to be in this house anymore. I'm ready to go. I'm ready to leave Kokomo."
"I was out watering my flowers and I heard the shots, and I thought it was fireworks," Sally Crider said.
She ran over to find the 18-year-old who had been shot.
"He was having convulsions, and I quickly called 911 and asked him if he knew, if he could tell me who shot him," Crider said.
"It's rare to hear something like this, that someone that young would shoot somebody else. In our field of work, it's not a surprising thing, but it's rare that it happens here in Kokomo," Kokomo Police Lt. Charlie Fourkiller said.
The suspect was taken to Kinsey Youth Center and faces preliminary charges of aggravated battery, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and child in possession of a firearm.
(NOTE: 13News does not name suspects until formal charges have been filed by prosecutors.)
The shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Lt. Austin McClain at 456-7268 or the Kokomo Police Department Hotline at 765-456-7017.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-262-8477.