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Teen suspect in shooting outside Sandy school officially charged with attempted murder

Posted at 3:16 PM, Oct 31, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-31 19:35:18-04

SANDY, Utah — A 14-year-old boy has been charged with one count of attempted murder after he shot a 16-year-old boy near Union Middle School last week, authorities confirmed Monday.

The shooting stems from a fight that occurred between the two teens outside the school after classes were out, near 600 East and 8000 South, on Oct. 25.

According to court documents released Monday, when officers arrived on scene they saw the victim on the ground bleeding heavily from his face.

“Officer Piekarczyk stated he asked bystanders where the shooter was, and male on the ground stated, ‘I am,'” according to court documents.

That male was identified as the suspect.

The suspect told authorities post-Miranda that he and the victim decided to fight that day, court documents state. The suspect said he was afraid the 16-year-old would do something so he decided take his mother’s gun to school.

“…[Suspect] stated he was just going to point the gun at him and hopefully, he’d get scared,” according to court documents.

According to court documents, the victim walked up to the suspect and said, “let’s do this right now.”

“[Suspect] pulled the gun out and pulled the trigger,” court documents indicate.

Erin Hemingway, a teacher at Union Middle School, told authorities she was outside on duty when the incident occurred, court documents indicate.

“Ms. Hemingway stated she saw [victim] walking toward [suspect] with his hands up and realized there was a fighting scenario,” according to court documents.

Hemingway was about 150 feet away from the boys when she heard a shot that sounded like a “popper.” As she got closer to the teens, documents state, the teacher saw the suspect standing up and pointing a black gun and the victim starting to fall.

“Ms. Hemingway stated she heard the first shot and then had visual contact and saw [suspect] try to shoot [victim] again, but the gun ‘jammed’ or something,” court documents indicate.

At that point, Hemingway stated the suspect looked at the gun, then pointed it at the victim and a second and third shot were fired. Another shot followed that was jammed, according to court documents.

“Ms. Hemingway stated [victim] was on the ground and she saw blood squirting from the victim,” court documents state. “Ms. Hemingway stated she turned to [suspect] who dropped to his knees, and grabbed the gun out of his hand.”

Hemingway told authorities the victim was on his back and “gurgling blood.”

The 16-year-old was taken to the hospital in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the head and face. He has been upgraded to stable. Authorities say the boy’s condition continues to improve.

The 14-year-old admitted to shooting the victim twice.

“[Suspect] also admitted he had told [victim] that he would reunite him with his mother, who had passed away,” according to court documents.

Both teens involved are students in the Canyons School District.

The 14-year-old has also been charged with felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony; felony discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony; and possession of a firearm on or about school premises, a class A misdemeanor.

The names of the suspect and victim have not been released because they are both juveniles.

More details will be provided as this story unfolds.