A 12-year-old boy in Hartford, Connecticut, was shot after throwing snowballs at passing cars, according to police reports. Officers were dispatched to the intersection of Capitol Avenue and Park Terrace at approximately 7:15 p.m., on Jan. 22, per local outlet NBC CT. The officers discovered the 12-year-old boy with gunshot wounds. Fortunately, his injuries were reported to be non-life-threatening.
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Police reported that a 12-year-old and an 11-year-old were playing in the snow, tossing snowballs at passing cars. A car was struck, prompting it to circle the block and pursue the kids. Someone inside the vehicle then shot the 12-year-old.
The boy was transported to Connecticut Children’s for treatment of his injuries.
Authorities Continue the Search for Suspects Who Shot Boy Who Threw Snowball at Their Car
Hartford Police Lieutenant Aaron Boisvert announced on Friday, January 24, that no arrests have been made so far, describing the case as a “very active investigation.” Speaking at a news conference the day prior, Boisvert revealed that the vehicle involved had “looped the block” before allegedly pursuing the children, leading to the shooting, according to a report by NBC News.
“It could have been a lot worse,” he noted, as reported by the outlet. Authorities remain uncertain about the exact number of occupants in the car.
CBS-affiliated station WFSB also reports that police have obtained video footage that may assist in the ongoing investigation. According to the outlet, officers are actively working to identify the vehicle and its occupants.
Eyewitness Garfield Haylett said that he was just a block away, cleaning his restaurant, when the child was tragically shot.
“We can’t have this happening in our community,” Haylett told the outlet.
“It’s not good anywhere … Why do we have to live like this? I don’t understand it,” he continued. “To put bullets in a child, it’s really disturbing.”
The Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions are currently conducting an investigation.
Wausau’s Snowball Ban
Meanwhile, a city in Wisconsin classified snowballs as illegal projectiles, placing them in the same category as rocks and arrows under its list of banned weapons.
Wausau’s municipal code prohibits throwing or shooting objects, including snowballs, at people or into public spaces like streets, sidewalks, parks, or buildings, per The New York Post. Though the law was only highlighted in 2019, it’s apparently been on the books for some time.