A tragic incident unfolded in Sacramento, California, on Saturday as a 10-year-old boy was shot and killed by another child using a stolen gun. According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, the victim succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, joining the tragic statistic of over 1,600 children and teens lost to gun violence in 2023.
Deputies responding to the scene at approximately 4:30 p.m. found the victim unresponsive and bleeding from his head and neck. Witnesses identified the individual responsible as a young boy who fled into a nearby apartment. Authorities detained all occupants, including 53-year-old Arkete Davis and his 10-year-old son.
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Investigation revealed that Davis' son, after fetching cigarettes for his father, accessed a gun stashed in his dad's vehicle. Bragging about the firearm, the child proceeded to shoot the victim before fleeing to the apartment. The discarded gun was recovered from a nearby trashcan, allegedly disposed of by Davis.
Authorities confirmed that Davis was legally prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm, and the recovered weapon had been reported stolen in 2017. He faces multiple felony charges, including child endangerment and accessory after the fact, in addition to firearm-related offenses. His bail is set at $500,000.
Meanwhile, the 10-year-old suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder and placed in the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility.
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The tragic incident underscores the grim reality that firearms have become the leading cause of death for U.S. children, surpassing motor vehicle accidents, which had long held that tragic distinction.
