Police: Teen Kills Himself After Accidentally Shooting Girlfriend In Coon Rapids
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Police in the north metro say a teenage boy killed himself Monday afternoon after he accidentally shot his girlfriend in the face and chest.
The Anoka County sheriff's office say 15-year-old Alantae Arnold shot his 14-year-old girlfriend with a handgun around 4 p.m. in an apartment building near the 11200 block of Robinson Drive Northwest, where the boy lived.
He then ran about 250 feet to a nearby charter school parking lot and shot himself in the head.
Authorities say Arnold's mother was present at the time of the shooting, and is cooperating with investigators.
The 14-year-old victim was found with flesh wounds, but she was alert and breathing and gave investigators information that led to their finding the body of the boy. She is expected to be OK.
"She was holding a rag against her neck, and there were massive amounts of blood all over her clothes," neighbor Dominick Schultz said.
The girl later told detectives that Arnold was "playing" with the handgun when he accidentally shot her, and she doesn't believe the shooting was intentional. Police say it's not clear why the boy then chose to commit suicide.
"There were police with K9's, M14's looking in the dumpster," witness Brian Foster said. "It was scary, it's the first time something this big has happened around here."
"This is just a tragic, tragic situation," Anoka County Sheriff Cmdr. Paul Sommer said.
Chase Cochrell, a friend of Arnold's, says he was shocked when he heard the news.
"I was planning on playing basketball with him again," Cochrell said.
Police say there is no danger to the public, and they are not searching for additional suspects.