A TEENAGER is behind bars for shooting and killing a younger boy after the two argued about a joke gone horribly wrong.
Nolan Grove, 13, has been charged with third-degree murder for the April 1 shooting of 12-year-old Kain Heiland.
6
6
6
6
The tragedy occurred near Grove’s home in the small town of Red Lion in York County, Pennsylvania, about an hour north of Baltimore, Maryland, according to local NBC affiliate WGAL.
Grove allegedly pointed his gun and pulled the trigger when Kain told him to shut up after Grove had made a joke about Kain’s mother, according to a witness statement.
Grove has been charged as an adult but will be placed in juvenile detention while he awaits further legal processing, county officials said.
He faces up to 40 years in prison for the murder charge alone.
“Decisions to charge anyone, let alone a 13-year-old with third-degree murder are taken with the utmost seriousness and care,” York County District Attorney Dave Sunday said during a press conference on Friday.
Grove surrendered to authorities on Friday morning, about a month after Heiland’s death.
MOUNTING EVIDENCE
Investigators said they have surveillance camera footage of the boys on the day of the shooting along with multiple witness accounts.
One video reviewed by police showed Grove pointing a gun with a red laser light directly at Heiland, before Heiland tells him, “Take your finger off the trigger,” according to charging documents.
Heiland can be seen shielding himself on the ground as the gun is pointed at him.
“I am so sorry, K,” a witness recounted Grove as saying after the shooting.
I would ask him why he killed my son because I’m just not understanding why he would do that.
Devin Rexroth
Police said they have also spoken to witnesses who said that Grove had threatened other people in the past.
Charging documents revealed that Grove reportedly once told two girls, who he thought had his friend’s bike, that he would not hesitate to shoot them.
Another witness confirmed that the exchange with the girls had happened and said Grove pointed the gun at their backs as they walked away.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Heiland’s mother, Devin Rexroth, told local reporters that she does not feel the charges are enough.
“I think it should have been first- or second-degree murder because I feel like it was premeditated. I feel like he planned out to kill my son,” she said.
6
6
In addition to third-degree murder, Grove faces several other charges including:
- Firearms not to be carried without a license
- Involuntary manslaughter
- Possession of a firearm by a minor
- Recklessly endangering another person
The grieving mother said she does not understand why anyone would want to harm her son.
“I would ask him why he killed my son because I’m just not understanding why he would do that,” Rexroth said.
Grove’s first preliminary hearing is scheduled for June.
The York County Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
Credit Gist New Today News in Newspaper Nigeria Headlines