OH - King Pleasant, 6, killed, 11-year-old arrested in shooting, Canton, Sept 2020

[JerseyGirl]

Judge orders 11-year-old boy behind bars to await trial for allegedly killing 6-year-old neighbor | WWLP

The 11-year-old is facing a charge of reckless homicide for shooting and killing King Pleasant in September. King was playing outside when he was shot near his family’s home.

 

[oceanstarryeyes]

Judge orders 11-year-old boy behind bars to await trial for allegedly killing 6-year-old neighbor | WWLP

The 11-year-old is facing a charge of reckless homicide for shooting and killing King Pleasant in September. King was playing outside when he was shot near his family’s home.

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If the loaded gun belonged to the parents, the parents should also be in jail.

 

[borndem]

I want more details -- was it an accident -- did the 11-y/o mistake King for a bird? a mole or other yard varmint? did he "just want to scare" the little boy? was he angry or jealous of the boy? Did he know the gun was loaded? Did he load the gun?
And the real question -- why was the freakin' gun loaded, and why weren't the weapon and the ammo locked up?
Grrrrr.

ETA -- I just looked at MSM and I saw no additional info on this. Maybe someone more local has seen something more...

 

[Filly]

Haven't researched the case, but my guess nobody knows who the gun belongs to. (Sigh).

Possibly a dirty gun bought on the street.

A dead baby. A very young boy locked up.

Sad,unnecessary, disgusting and it keeps happening.

 

[borndem]

Haven't researched the case, but my guess nobody knows who the gun belongs to. (Sigh).

Possibly a dirty gun bought on the street.

A dead baby. A very young boy locked up.

Sad,unnecessary, disgusting and it keeps happening.

bbm
Yes, my friend @Filly, it does.

One little boy gone, just gone forever to the world and to those who loved him. No one will ever know what this little guy could have done to make the world a better place.
Another angel gets his wings...

And another young boy who may/will never be the same. He may have a tuff time, IMO, for a while or forever. And there are two families with wounds that will never heal.
No, this type thing will never stop as long as guns and ammo are not handled properly with the understanding as to the harm they can do. They can be very dangerous in the wrong hands or owned by careless owners.
Many gun owners are stunned, hurting and angry, I'm sure, about this event, knowing that it easily could have been prevented.

here ends my mini rant

 

[Filly]

bbm
Yes, my friend @Filly, it does.

One little boy gone, just gone forever to the world and to those who loved him. No one will ever know what this little guy could have done to make the world a better place.
Another angel gets his wings...

And another young boy who may/will never be the same. He may have a tuff time, IMO, for a while or forever. And there are two families with wounds that will never heal.
No, this type thing will never stop as long as guns and ammo are not handled properly with the understanding as to the harm they can do. They can be very dangerous in the wrong hands or owned by careless owners.
Many gun owners are stunned, hurting and angry, I'm sure, about this event, knowing that it easily could have been prevented.

here ends my mini rant

So eloquently said my friend. As always very wise.

You bring a firearm into a home then everybody learns gun safety. Heck, we learned at about five years old. The basics. NOT "this is not a toy". Tell a kid not to touch something! Pffftttttt.

In 36 years I only saw my dad's firearm when he left for work or came home. Went upstairs and it got put in the safe. Later we all did learn at the range.

Never saw his other firearms until after he passed. As kids and teens if we had a party be assured nobody could get in that room or safe.


Just as an extra measure because youngest brother was ummmmm sneaky my dad showed him an ink pad and said if he ever even touched a hairbrush in that bedroom his prints are on file!

You didn't rant. This has to be repeated over and over. Somehow in this case and cases here some friend stops by and lays a loaded gun up on the fridge. So many scenarios. Also in such a horribly painful case I'm sorry but had to tell the ink pad story.

Thank you for all the intelligent, and common sense words you bring.

End rant. Lol

 

[FLmom777]

Here is the story from the local paper when it happened. Canton mother mourns 6-year-old killed by 11-year-old with gun

 

[borndem]

Same back atcha, @Filly. We had no guns in our house, but my grandfather did where they lived. Same as at your home -- his hunting shotguns were locked up and unloaded. The shotguns were in his outdoor workshop which was also locked. The shop also housed expensive furniture-making tools, etc., which could also hurt a curious child, and the gun, we later were told, was locked in a closet in the shop. We didn't ever go in his workshop...couldn't.
So all of us learned to respect the weapons because we (like you and your siblings, I'm sure) respected him. He took us out hunting with him -- exciting times to watch and learn -- and he showed us how things worked and showed us how to safely handle the weapon.
That's the way it was and everybody was fine...and safe. Simple.
SMH.

 

[borndem]

Here is the story from the local paper when it happened. Canton mother mourns 6-year-old killed by 11-year-old with gun

Is there a cuter little boy anywhere?! I just want to hug him, like I did my now 38-YEAR-old son, when he was 5 years old. Blonde curls and blue eyes (like me, except for the curls, dammit). Anyway, as many of you know, a son is so special to a mom. And now little King is gone. And that's all I'm gonna say about that, or I'll start crying. It's so damm maddening.

Is the other boy being seen by a professional? Seems to me he would need it. Was it rage, jealousy, not knowing the danger of that weapon, playing a game that he had no idea was dangerous, something more serious in his mind...?
I hope his family can deal with all this legally WRT his staying at home, with love and hope for their son, and with apologies and support to King's family. Everybody has got to be hurting.

And yes, IMO, LE should be looking into how this horror occurred. It could happen again if there are other unsecured weapons in that house. Someone in that house should be held to account for how that youngster had access to that weapon.
JMO

 

[JerseyGirl]

The circumstances of the shooting remain unclear to King’s family but the 11-year-old initially faced reckless homicide charges. Within 24 hours, however, he was released. The family protested in downtown Canton, chanting “Justice for King” and at a second hearing, the 11-year-old was changed and taken into custody this Thursday, a month and a half after the shooting.

“I want him to have a chance at rehabilitation," Yoder says about the 11-year-old. "I want King to have a fair chance at justice.”

The boy could remain in juvenile custody until he’s 21 if convicted.

Family seeks justice in death of 6-year-old Canton boy at hands of 11-year-old

 

[JerseyGirl]

Judge to rule on suspect's case tied to shooting of King Pleasant

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The 12-year-old suspect in the shooting death of 6-year-old King Pleasant in September is not fit to stand trial, putting the outcome of his court case in limbo.

A clinical psychologist offered that not-competent assessment Friday at a hearing in Stark County Family Court. Her opinion was supported by the written report of another mental health professional.

However, there wasn't agreement on whether the youth defendant might be able to attain competence — the ability to understand the legal proceedings and assist with his defense — within six months.


The youth has entered a plea of not true in the case, the juvenile court equivalent of not guilty.

During Friday's testimony, Walker, one of the two psychologists who assessed the defendant's competency, elaborated on her evaluation that the boy might be able to understand court proceedings within six months if provided with psychological services.


There's no significant evidence to suggest (the 12-year-old boy lacks) the cognitive skill set required for understanding the legal process and eventually participating in his own defense," she said.

"I'm unable to say with full confidence that based off his full-scale IQ that he'd be able to attain full competence within a six-month period," Walker said, but she didn't rule out the possibility.

A full-scale IQ is designed to provide a measure of an individual's complete cognitive or mental capacity and overall intellectual functioning.
Judge to rule on suspect's case tied to shooting of King Pleasant

 

[YaYa_521]

Charges in King Pleasant Killing Dropped - News-Talk 1480 WHBC

CANTON, Ohio (News Talk 1480 WHBC) – The 12-year-old Canton boy accused of shooting to death his...

www.whbc.com

February 10, 2021
SBM

{Snip]...no longer faces a reckless homicide charge. [snip]... released from custody ... [snip] ...mentally unfit to stand trial...

Canton teen faces new charges in 6-year-old King Pleasant's shooting death

A 13-year-old Canton boy faces three new charges in the fatal shooting of his 6-year-old neighbor, King Pleasant.

news.yahoo.com

July 12, 2022
SBM

He now faces one count of reckless homicide and one count of tampering with evidence – both third-degree felonies – and one count of discharging firearms, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. [snip] The 13-year-old was set to appear for arraignment at Stark County Family Court on Monday, but the hearing is continued until Aug. 16.
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