LIBERTY – Two boys, ages 15 and 16, have been charged with shooting a 17-year-old in the foot during an incident last Saturday night in the Village of Liberty. A second round narrowly missed the victim, but struck his backpack.
The alleged shooters fled the scene without being caught.
The ensuing investigation was conducted by Liberty Police, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office and State Police including with the use of a State Police K-9 unit.
For the next 60 hours, investigators searched the homes of the boys and interviewed family and friends.
At around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, both boys turned themselves in to Liberty Village Police.
They were each charged with armed assault and criminal possession of a weapon, both as felonies.
Following arraignment, the 16-year-old was placed in the custody of the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office to be placed in a secure juvenile detention facility pending a future court appearance.
The 15-year-old was arraigned in the Youth Part of Sullivan County Court and an application was made to have him held in a secure detention facility pending further court proceedings.
Liberty Police Chief Steven D’Agata said this case highlights growing concerns of many police agencies and members of the public regarding the state’s juvenile justice system.
In 2018, the state legislature passed the Raise the Age law, changing how people under the age of 18 are treated within criminal justice system.
“Put very plainly, a 15-year-old juvenile was charged with hooting a member of our community with an illegally possessed firearm, fled law enforcement for more than two days, and once arrested and charged, was immediately returned to the supervision of the same guardian under whose case these dangerous acts allegedly occurred,” the chief said.
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