Authorities respond to a shooting at a home on the 800 block of Arch Street in Norristown, Pennsylvania (WPVI/YouTube).
A 13-year-old Pennsylvania boy allegedly found a handgun near a trash can and fatally shot his 16-year-old friend, authorities said.
Daniel Hawkins-Boyce faces a third-degree murder charge in the death of William Boyd, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime and the Montgomery County District Attorney”s Office. Prosecutors also charged him with receiving stolen property, involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a minor and possession of an instrument of crime with intent.
The Ruger .380 handgun had been reported stolen in Philadelphia on June 3, according to the district attorney’s office. Investigators say it was the weapon used in the fatal shooting.
A family member told authorities that Hawkins-Boyce “had found a handgun beside a trash can and was playing with it” on Sept. 22. He was inside a home on the 800 block of Arch Street in Norristown, Pennsylvania, with Boyd, whom regional ABC affiliate WPVI reported was his friend.
Hawkins-Boyce allegedly discharged the firearm, striking Boyd in the face.
Norristown police were called to the residence at about 10:30 a.m. after receiving a 911 report of a shooting. Officers found Boyd dead on the first floor when they arrived.
Dr. Lauren Thoma of the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office conducted Boyd’s autopsy. She “determined the cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the head and the manner of death was homicide.”
Detectives recovered the Ruger at the scene and discovered that it had been reported stolen several months earlier.
Hawkins-Boyce was detained and charged in adult court. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said the evidence “clearly showed that the defendant recklessly fired the firearm at the victim, fatally striking him.”
Steele added: “Despite the child’s age, Pennsylvania law requires us to charge the defendant in adult court, but we anticipate that the Court will review whether or not the case will remain in adult or move to juvenile court.”
The defendant was arraigned on Wednesday, and bail was set at 10% of $200,000, allowing for release after a $20,000 payment. His next court appearance, a preliminary hearing, is scheduled for Oct. 14.
Norristown is located approximately 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
