Authorities say a 16-year-old in Bemidji opened fire on his parents and a bystander after they took away his cellphone, leaving three adults wounded in an apartment parking lot.
The shooting unfolded the afternoon of May 7 outside an apartment building in the 2500 block of Itasca Loop Northwest. Emergency responders treated all three victims at the scene, then rushed them to nearby hospitals. Police say the teen suspect surrendered roughly two hours later and is now facing felony charges.
What prosecutors allege
Prosecutors have charged the teen with four felony counts, including unlawful possession of a firearm and several counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. According to the Star Tribune, they are asking to have him tried in Beltrami County as an adult.
The Star Tribune also reports that the teen’s mother has been discharged from a Bemidji hospital, while his father remains hospitalized in Fargo.
The scene and injuries
When officers arrived, they found the boy’s mother bleeding from an apparent gunshot wound to the abdomen. His father had been shot in the thigh, and officers had to apply a tourniquet after the bullet struck his femoral artery, according to details in the juvenile petition cited by KSTP.
A third person in the parking lot was also shot in the leg and required a tourniquet, the petition states.
How investigators say the case unfolded
The juvenile petition says the teen told investigators he became “irate” after his parents revoked his cellphone privileges, then grabbed a handgun to retaliate. He allegedly told police he fled the scene and stashed the pistol, which officers later recovered under a pile of leaves near Bemidji Middle School, according to CBS Minnesota.
Valley News Live reports that area hospitals briefly went into lockdown while medical teams treated the victims and officers searched for the suspect.
Legal next steps and family reaction
A hearing to decide whether the teen will be certified to stand trial in adult court is set for May 21, prosecutors told KSTP.
The family has posted a video from the hospital thanking supporters and saying they still love their son, according to the Star Tribune. Investigators continue to review court documents and other evidence as the case moves through the system.
