Detroit boy, 11, charged in shooting death of 3-year-old
(Reuters) - An 11-year-old Detroit boy was charged with manslaughter on Wednesday in the shooting death of a 3-year-old boy, prosecutors said.
The shooting happened on Monday afternoon on the city's east side. Prosecutors said that while visiting his father's house, the 11-year-old took a handgun from a bedroom closet and threw it out of a bedroom window into the backyard.
The boy then retrieved the gun and entered a car parked in the backyard, prosecutors said in a statement. The three-year-old went into the same car and a short time later was shot once in the face.
"I cannot remember a time where we have charged someone so young with taking a life," said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, in a statement. "Very unfortunately and very tragically, the alleged facts in this case demanded it."
The office said the charge means death was caused by a weapon aimed with intent but without malice.
She provided no further information about the shooting.
The youngster also faces a felony firearm charge. Police had initially identified the boys as brothers, however, they are now trying to determine if the boys were related, according to a CBS News report.
A police spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
A bond of $5,000 was set at a pre-trial hearing in juvenile court on Wednesday afternoon, according to Wayne County assistant prosecutor Mark Bernardi.
No names were released.
(Reporting by Mary Wisniewski; Editing by Sandra Maler)
