Boy, 16, shot himself in the leg, but told police he was wounded on the street
By Jayed Rahman
Published: January 3, 2016
A 16-year-old boy told police he was walking home on Saturday night when a gunman got out of a vehicle and shot him in the leg and fled in a vehicle, but Ceasefire Unit detectives quickly determined the youth allegedly shot himself in the leg while handling a firearm, according to police.
Police responded to the shooting on East Main and Bergen Streets at about 9:30 p.m. The 16-year-old was located inside a residence with a gunshot wound to the upper leg, according to police.
The boy told a detailed tale to officers: he was walking home and near East Main and Bergen Streets, a man got out of a black Dodge Charger, fired at him wounding him in the leg, and fled in the car.
Detectives became suspicious of the shooting incident as it was related by the young man. Detectives Christopher Ravallese and Francisco Brito initiated an investigation and determined the victim’s injuries were accidental and self-inflicted which resulted while he was handling a firearm.
A gun that police believe was in the 16-year-old’s possession has been recovered and will be submitted to the ballistics laboratory for analysis, according to police.
The teenager for his wound and released from hospital. He is being detained at the detention center in Essex County, according to police.
The youth will be charged with weapons offenses. Police said at this time the investigation is continuing.
“The investigators did a phenomenal job in determining the cause in this investigation,” praised police director Jerry Speziale. “The Paterson Police Department takes this seriously and will not be fooled by anyone.”