15-year-old charged in shooting near Springfield McDonald’s

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after police said he shot a 16-year-old boy near a Springfield McDonald’s on Wednesday evening.

This news organization is not naming the suspect because he’s under 18.

Springfield police said the teen suspect has also been charged with felonious assault in the case.

Clark County Juvenile Court Judge Katrine Lancaster said the teen will be held in juvenile detention until his next court date. Denials were entered to the charges on Thursday.

According to police, the 15-year-old shot a 16-year-old near the McDonald’s on East Main Street by Bellevue Avenue around 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

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Joe Speaks, the owner of a nearby business, said he was just across the street at the time of the shooting, but it took him by surprise. Speaks said he was disappointed when he learned of the shooting — but moreso that it involved two teens.

He heard a loud ‘bang!,’ but thought kids were just outside playing with fireworks.

“We didn’t think nothing of it,” he said. “And all of a sudden, I look out there’s police everywhere.”

Police say the victim managed to get inside the McDonald’s after he was shot.

A nurse ordering in the drive-thru heard the shooting and ran to help the boy.

“The young man that fired the gun was probably five feet in front of him and they were arguing. That’s what got our attention,” Starr Huff said. “The next thing I knew the young man shot the gun — shot him in the chest — and then as I jumped out he shot two more times at him.”

Huff said the teen’s fear was palpable. She said his pupils dilated when he asked Huff to tell his mother and grandmother that he loved them and that he was dying.

“I said ‘you’re not going to die. Not today. You’re not going to die. I’m not going to let you,’” Huff said.

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She said she continued to help him until paramedics arrived.

“The fear on that young man’s face was enough, was enough for me to do everything that I would ever have to do that I gave my best efforts to save his life,” she said.

The teen was taken to Springfield Regional Medical Center and then taken by CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. As of Thursday evening, the victim was in stable condition.

Police say after shots rang out, the suspect ran away, but police found him and a gun at an apartment in the 300 block of South Burnett Road, where he was taken into custody.

It’s not clear what led up to the shooting.

The victim’s name hasn’t been released.


16 — age of shooting victim

4 — 9-1-1 calls into Springfield City Dispatch

.38 — caliber of gun suspect used to shoot victim

The Springfield News-Sun is committed to following ongoing criminal investigations and bringing readers the latest developments, from the crime scene to the courtroom.

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