Older brother of 12-year-old shooting victim pleads not guilty to firearms charges
A relative is overcome with emotion as Walter Hendrick was arraigned in Dorchester District Court, Friday, July 14, 2023, in Boston. Hendrick has pleaded not guilty to weapons charges in connection with the shooting death of his 12-year-old brother.
Walter Hendrick, left, hides behind a door near a court officer as he was arraigned in Dorchester District Court, Friday, July 14, 2023, in Boston, in the shooting death of his 12-year old brother at their home on Thursday.
A relative is overcome with emotion as Walter Hendrick was arraigned in Dorchester District Court, Friday, July 14, 2023, in Boston. Hendrick has pleaded not guilty to weapons charges in connection with the shooting death of his 12-year-old brother.
BOSTON (AP) 鈥� A Boston man pleaded not guilty to weapons charges Friday after his 12-year-old brother was found fatally shot at home.
Walter Hendrick, 22, was arraigned in Dorchester Municipal Court on charges of improper storage of a firearm potentially accessible to someone under the age of 18; unlawful possession of a firearm; and unlawful possession of ammunition. The judge set bail at $2,500.
Officers responding to a home in the city蘑菇视频 Mattapan neighborhood at about 2 p.m. Thursday found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest, the prosecutor said. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators found a gun in the home and Hendrick said it belonged to him, the prosecutor said. He kept it in a fanny pack, she said.
Authorities did not disclose who fired the gun.
Morjieta Derisier, Hendrick蘑菇视频 attorney, asked that her client he released on personal recognizance as he has no criminal record and his family wants him at home.
鈥淎s you can tell, this is a tragic situation. Mr. Hendrick蘑菇视频 just lost his younger brother,鈥� she said in court. 鈥淗e蘑菇视频 supported here by his family who is sitting in the front row 鈥� They want him home.鈥�
The victim was described by his grandmother, Diane Ellis, as 鈥渉elpful, loving and respectful.鈥� She said she feels 鈥渘umb鈥� while talking with reporters outside of court.
Mayor Michelle Wu called the boy蘑菇视频 death a 鈥渘ightmare.鈥�
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 a horrible tragedy for the entire city whenever anyone of our young people is lost,鈥� she said in a news conference at the scene Thursday. 鈥淚n the summer when our kids should be enjoying, having fun, playing and growing, this is especially a nightmare for a mom and for a family.鈥�