Boy booked in girl’s shooting
by naomi martin
Advocate staff writer
June 05, 2012
A 13-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday in an accidental shooting that left a 9-year-old girl in critical condition, police said.
The boy took a gun from his mother’s house without her knowledge and brought it to his father’s house at 4733 Banks St., said police spokesman Cpl. Thomas Stubbs.
The boy’s father, Anthony Bass, 48, said when he left the house at 3:15 a.m. to go to work, his son was awake watching TV with Bass’ fiancée’s 15-year-old daughter, 11-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter.
About 15 minutes later, Bass said his cellphone rang. All he could hear was children crying and screaming, he said.
“I’m like, ‘What the hell?’ ” he said. “They were just sitting there when I left. I don’t know how things changed so quickly.”
Bass’ son had started playing with the gun after Bass left and while Bass’ fiancée was asleep, police said.
The gun accidentally fired, and a bullet hit the 9-year-old girl in the head, Stubbs said.
Bass’ son was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Detention Center on a count of negligent injuring and possession of a firearm by a juvenile, police said.
The victim was taken to a hospital, police said.
Bass said he doubted that his son was solely responsible for the shooting.
“Only the kids know the truth of what happened,” he said. “My son would never tell on anyone. He always takes the rap.”
Bass said he was upset that detectives had apparently questioned his son without him present.
“When I got here, the detectives told me I couldn’t approach my son and that he already admitted he done it,” he said.
A police spokesman said detectives did not need to question the 13-year-old before arresting him.
“There was enough evidence for us to make an arrest without actually having to question the suspect,” said spokesman Cpl. L’Jean McKneely.