A teenager has been shot and injured by a homeowner in the United States. This was announced by the police at a press conference in Kansas City, Missouri. The 16-year-old wanted to pick up his siblings, but accidentally rang the wrong doorbell, several US media reported. The homeowner then shot the black youth.
An arrest warrant has now been issued against the man, a white man over 80 years old, prosecutor Zachary Thompson said at a press conference on Monday (local time). He was charged with aggravated assault, which in Missouri carries a sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. He was also charged with armed criminal activity.
The suspect was initially taken into custody for 24 hours after the crime, but was then released. According to the Washington Post, he told police the shooting was the last thing he wanted to do, but he was terrified of the teenager’s size, age and inability to defend himself. He thought he had to protect himself from a physical altercation. According to the information, he was visibly upset and had repeatedly expressed his concern for the victim.
The case happened on Thursday. The boy’s condition is stable, police said. The investigators did not give details of the severity and nature of his injuries.
Racism allegations were raised
US Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her condolences to the 16-year-old and his family. “No child should ever live in fear of being shot for ringing the wrong doorbell,” she wrote on Twitter. According to US media reports, the teenager is recovering from the injury. The renewed case of gun violence in the United States sparked protests in Kansas City. According to CNN, hundreds of people took to the streets in the city bordering the state of Kansas.
“I’m sick of this feeling,” wrote actress Halle Berry (56) on Twitter about the case. “This innocent child is now fighting for his life,” she added, posting a photo of the victim said to be in hospital with a bandage on his head. It breaks her heart that the boy was shot – “by a man who didn’t want him on his property”.
