Two men were seriously wounded when they were shot by a 15-year-old boy. As children were preparing to go to school this morning in the Arlington Drive area shots rang out. The trouble was with a 15 year old who'd had a misunderstanding with his brother in law. He decided to get a gun a settle his disagreement with 26 year old Simon Castillo. 7NEWS was on the scene shortly after the shooting, and we found out how an innocent bystander was caught in the crossfire.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
This machete at the home of Natherie McKenzie points to what 26-year-old Simon Castillo was doing this morning: He was chopping his girlfriend's yard shortly before 8:30 when his brother in law came by. Natherie who did not wish to appear on camera says there were harsh words exchanged. After that her brother came back.
Natherie McKenzie,
"When he passed here this morning was chopping and he started to holler pussy and thing and I told him to relax that. So he passed back. He said watch what will catch him and I went up the street and when he came back I heard shots fire and when I look it was him who got shot. I told my boy to run and he opened fire and he caught another young man back there too."
That other young man is Hubert Allen Young, also known as Faber. Young was coming out of his house with his child's pram when bullets began flying. His girlfriend Patricia Usher who is in complete shock and covered in blood after helping her boyfriend, says she had just woken up to help her carry the stroller to the street side.
Patricia Usher,
"He was asleep and I waked him out of his bed to come and do this and bring out the prom because I was going to the clinic. I had my baby father bringing out the prom and I went upstairs to my mom and after that I see this young boy chasing Simon from that house there and he ran upstairs of our house and after that we just heard a lot of gunshots. When I came downstairs I saw that my baby father was shot in his head back and the boy was shot in his back and we took them to the hospital. I don't know who did it or anything. I just saw a crowd of boys chasing the boy."
Castillo received a gunshot to the back which exited through his abdomen, with that injury he ran up this house, the home of Usher's mother to seek refuge from the gunman. Young received a gunshot to the back of the head. Superintendent Chester Williams who was at the scene this morning told us that the shooting is as a result of a long misunderstanding.
Supt. Chester Williams, C.I.B. Chief
"It is a misunderstanding that has been going on for I would say at least a month. It is something that could have been settled between the family but seemingly they choose to go this way. Nonetheless we will do our best to see how best we could resolve this problem. McKenzie for sure, upon his detention, will be charged for the attempted murder of Castillo and Faber."
Natherie McKenzie,
"It is a longtime thing but they had already eased off of that. When he came last night he just told me to please talk to my brother and then I told my mom to avoid problem so she said she spoke to him this morning and he passed with the intention to throw phrase so he passed back and that was it. I didn't expect that."
Unexpected and that family dispute almost turned deadly for two men one of which was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Police have charged the 15-year-old shooter with attempted murder. We cannot show you his picture or disclose his name because he is a minor. He appeared in Family Court this afternoon.
