SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT News Release
		Release #10-19-03 October 19, 2003 For Immediate Release
						Media Office 916-433-0808  Capt. Sam Somers Sgt. Justin Risley, PIO PIC Audrey Lee     Internet: www.sacpd.org

On October 19, 2003, at approximately 4:00 P.M., Sacramento Police Officers received a 911 call from an unidentified person at 3305 19th Avenue  Responding police officers located an eight-year-old boy lying in the driveway with a large gunshot wound to his upper torso. The first officers on scene began CPR on the child and immediately requested medical assistance.  A short time later an ambulance arrived and transported the child to the U.C. Davis Medical Center where he expired shortly there after.

Homicide detectives were called in to investigate and have determined that the following occurred:  The victim and his cousin, both of whom are eight years old, were playing in a makeshift “clubhouse” in the backyard of 3305 19th Avenue when they discovered a loaded shotgun. They began to play with the weapon when one of the boys accidentally discharged it,  striking the victim in the upper torso.

The weapon, a sawed off, 12 gauge shotgun, was later located in the alley to the rear of 3305 19th Avenue.   It is unknown at this time why the weapon was located in the backyard, or how it came to rest in the alley.
 

The victim's name will be released by the Sacramento County Coroner's Office.

A fifteen year old male, who is the Cousin of the victim, was arrested and transported to the Sacramento County Juvenile Hall on charges of unsafe storage of a firearm, possession of a firearm and other gang enhancement charges.  Homicide investigators believe that the suspect, who was on home detention (3305 19th Avenue)  for a previous conviction of auto theft,  placed the 12 gauge shotgun underneath the makeshift "clubhouse" in attempt to conceal it prior to being found by his eight year old brother.

The suspect name will not be released because of his age.