Boy Says He Was 'Shooting At Ghosts' When He Killed Brother
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) – Testimony began on Wednesday in the murder trial of a 14-year-old teenager accused of killing his little brother and injuring his mother.
Prosecutors say Daniel Gudino shot and killed his 9-year-old brother Ulysess at the family's home in Colorado Springs. Nearly two years after the murder neighbor Michael Dailey is still reflecting on what happened.
"I could have never expected that to happen," Dailey told CBS4.
In May 2009 police in Colorado Springs said Daniel, who was 13 at the time, picked up his father's rifle and shot Ulysess three times. The teen is also accused of stabbing his mother Marina, who survived.
Dailey said there wasn't any indication Daniel was violent before the shooting.
"He was just a very friendly little child. I could of never expected anything like that to have happened."
In court on Wednesday, Marina Gudino testified that her son took the gun from a downstairs gun cabinet. That part of the story has angered neighbor Helma James since she first heard about it.
"Who in the world has loaded guns in the house when there are a bunch of kids in there? I think it's the father's and the mother's fault," James told CBS4.
Wednesday's testimony included a police officer who testified that when he arrived on the scene Daniel admitted to the killing and apologized. A doctor also testified, saying Ulysess sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and died sometime afterwards.
Defense lawyers said Daniel might have been sleepwalking at the time of the shooting. They said Daniel described the scene as a dream and said that he was shooting at ghosts.
As the trial goes on, neighbors are paying attention and still wondering why the tragedy happened.
"A killing right next door to you … you just think 'What in the world happened?'" Dailey said.
Gudino's parents have asked that their son be sent to a facility where he can receive treatment for mental health problems instead of going to jail.
The trial was expected to continue on Thursday.
