OLYPHANT, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A young boy who was shot in the streets of Lackawanna County is expected to survive. The shooting happened Sunday night in Olyphant, where the alleged teenage shooter shot a 12-year-old in the chest.
Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher tells 28/22 News this act of youth violence comes down to a parenting crisis.
He says the young boy who was shot last night is in critical but stable condition and is expected to survive.
Those in the neighborhood still can't believe what happened.
Dried blood, splattered on the sidewalk of Susquehanna Avenue in Olyphant. It belongs to a 12-year-old boy who was shot in the chest by a 14-year-old boy Sunday night.
Aurea Vilar was shocked to hear of what happened to a child just feet away from where she lives.
She says she suffers from insomnia and was asleep when shots rang out and the violence occurred Sunday evening.
A neighbor broke the news to her on Monday morning.
Roadwork on I-81 could tie up commutes in Luzerne County
"And she told me, and I was so surprised," Viliar said.
"It's very shocking, especially to everyone in Olyphant and the valley," District Attorney Gallagher said.
District Attorney Gallagher says around 9:00 p.m., the boy was shot in the chest at the intersection of Susquehanna Avenue and Nestor Chylak Drive.
Three juveniles involved in the shooting, all under the age of 15, are in custody. The alleged shooter is just 14 years old.
"Really, what this comes down to is we need parents to start being parents. We are in a parenting crisis. There's no reason that 12 and 13-year-olds should be out on the street at 8:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m. on a Sunday night. There is absolutely no reason one should have access to a firearm," Gallagher explained.
Viliar, who has grandchildren, says she couldn't agree more.
"Parents should be more aware of what their children are doing and monitoring them. They don't have the maturity. They don't think ahead," Viliar added.
Burning body identified as Schuylkill County woman
The young boy was flown to Geisinger near Danville Sunday night. He remains in critical but stable condition.
Gallagher is calling the youth violence out of control, he believes prevention is the key.
"It's happening more than you see it, and more than it's reported on, and we need community partners to come to the table and provide some help and we have to get in people's homes and figure out what is going on that a 13-year-old would pull a trigger," Gallagher continued.
"You teenagers have to start thinking about your future, being integrated in the community, and doing good," Viliar said.
The alleged shooter is facing attempted murder, aggravated assault, and other related firearm charges.
Under Pennsylvania law, anyone under the age of 15 cannot be tried as an adult.
Gallagher tells 28/22 News he intends to file a petition to transfer the 14-year-old.
