SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA) – The gun used to shoot and kill a 15-year-old male on Friday, March 22, was stolen out of Elkins, according to the Springdale Police Department.
A 17-year-old has been arrested for felony manslaughter, two counts of theft by receiving, one count of a stolen firearm and one count of vehicle theft, according to police.
Detectives consulted with the Washington County Prosecutor, Matt Durrett, who advised that his office will try the 17-year-old as an adult.
The teen is currently being held at the juvenile detention center, according to the news release.
On Friday, the teen, whose name has not been released, was taken to Northwest Medical Center by a couple of other juveniles where he was pronounced dead.
Police said the 15-year-old was with friends in a parked car on Singletree Avenue in Springdale and it was later determined the car was stolen out of Fayetteville.
The 15-year-old victim was in the driver’s seat and in the front passenger seat a 17-year-old was handling a gun when he accidentally fired the gun shooting the victim, said police.
In a separate incident, Elkins Police Chief Bryan Watts said on Friday police were working several reports of car break-ins and that six guns had been stolen from the vehicles. It’s unknown if the two cases have any connection.
This is an on-going investigation and no further information will be given at this time, according to Springdale police.
