14-year-old shot in head after argument between younger children, Detroit police say

A teen was shot in the head by another teen, who also shot his mother in the arm after an argument between two young children Thursday evening, Detroit police said.

The shooting occurred on the 800 block of Delaware Street shortly before 6 p.m., said Assistant Police Chief Charles Fitzgerald.

The incident began with two kids, ages 6 and 8, who were arguing, Fitzgerald said. A 13-year-old, who is related to one of the children, stepped in and tried to separate them, police said, but the 8-year-old went home and returned with a 14-year-old family member and his mother.

The 13- and 14-year-olds then began to argue when another teen, age 16, got involved.

The 16-year-old’s mother tried to stop him, Fitzgerald said, but he pulled out a gun and fired shots, hitting the 14-year-old in the head and his mother in the arm.

The mother was expected to recover, Fitzgerald said, but the 14-year-old was in “extremely critical” condition as of Thursday night.

The shooter dropped the gun and fled, running past undercover police who were involved in an unrelated case, Fitzgerald said. They quickly apprehended him.

“The first thing he asked when they got him in the car was how’s his mom,” Fitzgerald said.

Police said another teen, who tried to retrieve the weapon after the incident and discarded it, also was taken into custody.

mreinhart@detroitnews.com

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