An incident with gunfire in Forsythe County last weekend resulted in one minor man being hospitalized and another being remanded in custody.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office said their investigation began Saturday when they were summoned to an apartment building at The Villages in Castleberry in response to a 911 call that said the man had been shot.
“Deputies learned that two 16-year-old men were at home alone and bought a gun belonging to the parents of one of the minors,” said Forsyth County Public Information Officer Stacey Miller. “Deputy sheriffs, Forsyth County Fire Department and ambulance arrived on the scene and began providing first aid to the juvenile who was injured.”
Miller said a preliminary investigation had revealed that the couple “played” with the gun several times, loading and unloading weapons before the shooting.
Apparently, the suspect aimed his gun at the victim and fired one bullet, hitting the victim in the abdomen.
“Detectives from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office soon arrived at the scene to begin the initial investigation,” Miller said. “Detectives believe that the cause of the shooting was alcohol and drugs.”
The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he is said to be in stable condition.
The suspect is currently in custody at the Department of Juvenile Justice, and faces charges of using a battery under aggravated circumstances and possession of a firearm.
Although the individuals were not identified because of the couple’s age, Miller said both minors attend schools in Forsyth County.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit is continuing its investigation.