MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Police say two teens are facing charges after a 17-year-old was shot to death in Hickory Hill Saturday.
The shooting happened at the Hickory Farm Apartment Homes on Hickory Farms Drive off of Ridgeway Road. Police say a 17-year-old boy was pronounced dead on the scene.
According to police, a 16-year-old girl accidentally shot the victim after receiving a gun from a 16-year-old boy.
Police say the 16-year-old girl has been charged with reckless homicide. The 16-year-old boy has been charged with juvenile possession of a handgun.
Tywun Walters lives in the apartment complex and wonders if more could have been done to prevent it.
“Yeah, it could have been prevented like the parents and stuff, probably,” Walters said. “Just got to — I don’t know, man. That is crazy world we live in just got to protect yourself at all times. I’m pretty sure that teenager didn’t mean for that to happen.”
Data from Memphis Police shows that as of September 1, 20 children have died violently this year. Statistics like those are why Stevie Moore of Freedom from Unnecessary Negatives is calling for harsher penalties for those who kill children.
“We slapping them on the hand and that’s why they’re doing it over and over again,” Moore said. “I don’t care what they say, they should be held responsible. We can’t keep on excusing this stuff every time it happens, and it’s happened day after day, week after week, and month after month and here we go.”
The identity of the suspects likely won’t be released since they are not adults. At this time, it’s unclear if additional charges will be filed.
