GREENFIELD, Ind. — A 17-year-old boy was arrested in the shooting of a 16-year-old boy in Greenfield Sunday afternoon, police said.
The shooting happened at a home in the 1100 block of East First Street, just north of U.S. 40, around 4:30 p.m. Aug. 6. Witnesses said the victim was transported to the corner of Main and Brandywine streets.
The Greenfield Police Department said an officer patrolling in the area was about to initiate a traffic stop on a car driving recklessly, which was following the car the victim was in.
The officer was alerted to the teen who was shot and began first aid, "potentially saving his life," police said.
"The kid was riding in the back of the truck," said Michelle Paro, who lives on Main Street. "At the same time, an officer passed and somehow, he ended up out of the back of the truck and in the middle of the road."
The victim, who has not been identified, was taken to a Greenfield hospital before being transferred to an Indianapolis hospital. Police said his condition is stable.
Police arrested the suspect, only identified as a 17-year-old male, "within minutes" of the shooting and took him to the Greenfield Police Department. He was later transported to the Hancock County Jail and then a juvenile holding facility.
Greenfield police have been investigating a case involving firearms and drugs in the community. Police are working to learn if the two juveniles are connected to that case.
"Since June 26th, 2023, we've been investigating a group of individuals, mainly juveniles, related to the buying and selling of guns and drugs here in the city of Greenfield," Police Chief Brian Hartman said. "Since the investigation has started, we've taken six illegal guns off the street, served over 20 search warrants and have made 8-10 arrests, including both juveniles and adults."
One of those arrests included 37-year-old Eric Schenk, who allegedly bought firearms and illegal fully automatic conversion switches and provided them to his 16-year-old son.
Court documents allege the 16-year-old planned to sell the automatic conversion switches to juveniles and adults in Greenfield.
Schenck was taken into custody last week and was formally charged with three felonies Monday.