Juveniles face charges in pellet gun shootings

Monday, April 16, 2007
Singing along to "It's The Hard Knock Life" from the musical "Annie" are Tzouanakis Intermediate School third-graders Lilly Spencer, Madeleine Hayes, Hannah Brattain, Corrie Romer, Bailey Berish and Amelia Smith during the 2007 Puttin' on the Hits event Saturday night in McAnally Auditorium. The sold-out event featured 22 lip-synching acts by students in grades three through five.

Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter said Monday that he is seeking charges against two juveniles accused of shooting two children with a pellet gun at Greencastle's Robe-Ann Park last week.

Bookwalter told the BannerGraphic Monday morning that he filed charges of criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon and battery with a deadly weapon against the juveniles.

He said he thought the juveniles and their parents would be required to appear before Judge Matt Headley for an intake hearing in the next two weeks with a possible trial to follow in the next 30-45 days.

Bookwalter said he or one of his deputies would be handling the case in juvenile court.

Greencastle police officers responded to the city park last Wednesday evening on a report of two boys who said they were shot with a pellet gun at the children's play area known as Emerald Palace.

The father of the two victims told the BannerGraphic that one of his son's was shot in the stomach and the other in the back, arm and ear. He also said his sons were threatened with a knife, but police have not been able to confirm it.

The boys were said to have fled the park and told their aunt who notified police.

Greencastle Assistant Police Chief Brian Hopkins told the BannerGraphic last week that there may have been as many as four children targeted at the park Wednesday evening. He said the department will continue to patrol the park to ensure the safety of children who use it.

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