In moments of stress and fear, events seem to blur. Time seems to simultaneously slow down and speed up, and certain events may seem unclear. Under such duress, it is unclear how reliable a person’s memory of exact events might be. A teenager, recently charged with attempted murder after a shooting in a Chicago neighborhood, may question the memory of victims or other potential witnesses in a shooting allegedly involving a group of people.
Reports indicate that the shooting occurred at approximately 6 p.m. one evening in late June. The events of the evening reportedly began with three male teenagers who were standing on a corner in a Chicago neighborhood. The three teens were allegedly approached by another group of males, although it is unclear how many people were in this group.
Police claim that the second group opened fire on the first before running from the scene. Three people, two 14-year-olds and a 17-year-old, were wounded in the shooting. A 13-year-old, whose identity has not been released at this time, now faces six different charges as a result of the shooting.
It is unclear at this time how police determined whom to charge in connection with the shooting. If the suspect was in a group as described, it would be difficult for the victims or other bystanders to determine exactly who was firing a weapon. At this time, it is unclear what evidence police have against the teenager who is now charged with attempted murder and aggravated battery. As with all criminal cases in this country, Chicago prosecutors must provide enough evidence to prove the boy’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in order to obtain a conviction. Otherwise, he must be found not guilty.
Source: NBC Chicago, “Boy, 13, Charged With Three Counts of Attempted Murder“, , July 2, 2014