MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A young teen has been charged after the shooting death of a 10-year-old in North Memphis.
Around 11 p.m. Monday evening, officers were called to 2240 Howell after a 10-year-old boy was shot. The victim was taken to the hospital where he died.
Officers were told the little boy was standing outside with a family member when shots were fired. The boy was not identified.
On Wednesday, Memphis police said a 14-year-old relative was charged with reckless homicide in the case. Police told WREG he was reportedly playing with the gun when it went off.
“I knew this child. I knew his mother,” neighbor Beverly Loverson said. “He was just like a son of mine or something. I knew him very well, seen him every day in the neighborhood.”
Neighbor Jamila Lee says this points to a larger problem in the neighborhood. Memphis crime data shows police have responded to multiple assaults, thefts and other incidents just in the last month.
“It’s like we’re in the middle of a war zone, but we can’t get anybody to do anything if nobody says anything,” Lee said.
MPD says 38 children died violently in 2020, and 30 of those are murders.