SHOOTING INVESTIGATION - JUVENILE ARRESTED
News Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SHOOTING INVESTIGATION
VICTIMS: 17-year-old male
15-year-old-male
both from Boyertown, PA
JUVENILE SUSPECT: 14-year-old male
Perkiomenville, PA
CHARGES:
Criminal Attempt – Homicide (2 counts)
Aggravated Assault – (4 counts)
Simple Assault – (2 counts)
Recklessly Endangering Another Person – (2 counts)
Possessing Instruments of Crime – (1 count)
Firearms not to be Carried without a License – (1 count)
Possession of Firearm by Minor (1 count)
DETAILS OF INCIDENT:
On Sunday, June 11, 2023, the Douglass Township Police Department responded to the 1200 block of Reading Avenue (SR 562), for the report of a shooting. It was determined that a 17-year-old male and a 15-year-old male had been walking along SR 562 when a car pulled up and fired shots, striking them both. The victims were transported to the Tower Health – Reading Hospital for the treatment of these gunshot wounds.
The Berks County Forensic Services Unit responded and processed the scene. Among the physical evidence collected, two (2) spent firearm casings were found along the roadway where this incident occurred.
A joint investigation between the Douglass Township Police Department and the Berks County Detectives was initiated. Investigators learned that the two juvenile victims had left a nearby house party not long before they were shot. At the time of this shooting, the victims were walking along SR 562, heading toward Boyertown. Investigators further determined that prior to their departure, the two victims had been involved in a physical altercation with several subjects at this party.
As a result of various interviews conducted during this investigation, a suspect was quickly identified. The suspect, a 14-year-old male from Perkiomenville, Montgomery County, was interviewed by investigators on Monday, June 12, 2023. This suspect was interviewed in the presence of his attorney and subsequently admitted to shooting the victims. The suspect acknowledged that this shooting occurred in response to the earlier altercation at the house party. The suspect informed investigators that he had been provided with this firearm by a juvenile acquaintance and that he is no longer in possession of this weapon.
On Monday, June 12, 2023, the defendant was charged as a juvenile with the afore-mentioned charges.
This investigation is continuing. If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the Berks County Detective’s Office at 610-478-7171, the Douglass Township Police Department at (610) 367-9474, or Crime Alert Berks County at (877) 373-9913.
The Berks County Forensic Services Unit responded and processed the scene. Among the physical evidence collected, two (2) spent firearm casings were found along the roadway where this incident occurred.
A joint investigation between the Douglass Township Police Department and the Berks County Detectives was initiated. Investigators learned that the two juvenile victims had left a nearby house party not long before they were shot. At the time of this shooting, the victims were walking along SR 562, heading toward Boyertown. Investigators further determined that prior to their departure, the two victims had been involved in a physical altercation with several subjects at this party.
As a result of various interviews conducted during this investigation, a suspect was quickly identified. The suspect, a 14-year-old male from Perkiomenville, Montgomery County, was interviewed by investigators on Monday, June 12, 2023. This suspect was interviewed in the presence of his attorney and subsequently admitted to shooting the victims. The suspect acknowledged that this shooting occurred in response to the earlier altercation at the house party. The suspect informed investigators that he had been provided with this firearm by a juvenile acquaintance and that he is no longer in possession of this weapon.
On Monday, June 12, 2023, the defendant was charged as a juvenile with the afore-mentioned charges.
This investigation is continuing. If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the Berks County Detective’s Office at 610-478-7171, the Douglass Township Police Department at (610) 367-9474, or Crime Alert Berks County at (877) 373-9913.