A 13-year-old teenager was taken into police custody for his involvement in a fatal shooting incident. He is currently being held in a juvenile facility on investigation of murder. Like many other youthful offenders, it appears as if this young boy was struggling with serious mental health problems.
Authorities in Washington say that in mid-April 2020, the teen started following a man who was walking down a street. It is believed that he continued following the other person for about a block before pulling out a firearm, allegedly shooting the 35-year-old man from behind. Witnesses told police that the young boy then ran away from the scene. The man later died of his injuries.
The police eventually tracked down the teen by using surveillance video, and witnesses also helped them identify the suspect. When asked about his involvement, he told police that he felt depressed and was scared that he would kill himself if he did not kill someone else first. It is not clear if he is receiving any mental health treatment while in the juvenile facility.
Mental illness is not at all uncommon among youthful offenders, but many are not able to get the help they need. Instead, they often wind up in the juvenile court system where their mental health needs are often not met. Parents in Washington who are dealing with a child’s recent arrest understand just how important accessing that care is, which is why mounting a strong defense to his or her charges cannot be overlooked.