Three individuals, including two juveniles, are facing charges following an investigation into a shooting that left a 15-year-old boy with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his hand early Thursday morning in North Canton.
According to an update released Friday, Oct. 23, by the North Canton Police Department, investigators determined the 15-year-old allegedly entered a vehicle without authorization and stole a firearm before accidentally shooting himself while handling the weapon.
The investigation began at approximately 3:39 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, when officers responded to a residence in the 1000 block of Liberty Lane Avenue NW after receiving a 911 call from a mother reporting that her juvenile son had suffered a gunshot wound to his hand.
When officers arrived, they located the juvenile and his mother outside the residence. The boy was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
During the initial investigation, the juvenile provided limited information about the shooting, telling officers he had been with two other individuals but declining to identify them or disclose where the incident occurred.
As the investigation progressed, detectives identified three individuals involved in the events surrounding the shooting: two male juveniles, ages 14 and 15, and an 18-year-old man.
Police said the 15-year-old allegedly entered a vehicle without permission and stole a firearm. While handling the weapon, he discharged a round, striking himself in the hand.
Investigators subsequently obtained and executed a search warrant at a residence, where they recovered a firearm believed to be connected to the shooting.
The search warrant was executed with assistance from the Stark County Sheriff’s Office and a K-9 unit from the Canton Police Department.
As a result of the investigation, the 18-year-old man and 14-year-old boy were each charged with misdemeanor theft and underage consumption of alcohol.
Both were issued summonses and released.
The 15-year-old, meanwhile, was taken into custody and transported to a juvenile detention center.
Police said he faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including theft, tampering with evidence, breaking and entering, using weapons while intoxicated, falsification, obstructing official business and underage consumption of alcohol.
Authorities have not disclosed the specific circumstances surrounding the alleged alcohol consumption or how the other two individuals were involved in the events leading up to the shooting.
The identities of the three individuals have not been released.
In the department’s initial statement Thursday, investigators said there was no indication of an ongoing threat to the general public.
The investigation remains ongoing.
