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Charges sought against grandmother, grandson in fatal shooting of 13-year-old boy

Posted at 11:41 AM, Dec 13, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-13 13:22:09-05

We are following developments in the investigation into the shooting death of a 13-year-old boy.

Detroit Police have submitted a warrant package for review to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office seeking charges against another 13-year-old boy and his grandmother. 

Detroit Police say the prosecutor's office will decide if the grandmother should be charged with child neglect for failing to secure her gun. Her grandson could face a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm causing death.

Police say the 13-year-old grandson was home alone with several other teens at a home on Tireman Street in Detroit.  He got into his grandmother's bedroom. It is unclear whether it was locked or not. His grandmother's gun was hidden, but he found it. He loaded it and started playing with it. His friend was fatally shot.

The victim has been identified as EJ Watkins. His mom says he was in the eighth grade at Sampson-Webber Leadership Academy, loved playing chess, and electronics.

Police do not believe the shooting was intentional.