West Philly Teen Sentenced For Shooting Attack On 12-Year-Old Boy
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A West Philadelphia teenager has been sentenced to 20-40 years in prison for shooting a 12-year-old boy last year.
According to prosecutors, the young victim was targeted in retaliation for another shooting committed earlier by the boy's older stepbrother.
Prosecutor Jason Kadish says Shaheem Willis (above), now 19 but 17 at the time, laid in wait and shot the boy as he sat in the family car, near 6st and Spruce Streets.
The young victim testified at trial that his mother had just gotten out of the car to pick up his sister at daycare when a car window shattered with the first shot.
Prosecutor Jason Kadish says the boy was shot in the heart but survived:
"The evidence showed he (Willis) shot at least five times. There were five fired cartridge cases recovered. And it showed he approached the complainant point-blank and shot him -- both through the heart once and in his left hand."
The victim testified that he was shot through the hand as he raised his hands defensively when the gun was pointed at his head.
His mother says the family moved away out of fear and never returned to that home. She says they have been destroyed emotionally by the event.
Reported by Tony Hanson, KYW Newsradio.
