CLEARFIELD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — In an update about a shooting involving juveniles, we have learned that a teen was charged as an adult after a 12-year-old girl was shot in the head.
The shooting happened April 28 at around 7:30 p.m. in Brady Township. First responders were called about a gunshot wound to the head.
The girl was given medical aid and then taken to Penn Highlands DuBois before being flown to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.
On May 1, at 8:28 a.m., the girl was pronounced dead. The cause of death is being preliminarily ruled as “blunt force trauma to the head as a result of a gunshot wound.”
The teen, 14-year-old Aaron Klingensmith, told police he was showing the girl his father’s 9mm handgun and asked: “Loaded or not loaded?” He then pulled the trigger. According to the complaint, he saw the girl drop to the floor and went to tell his father. The father claimed he kept the gun in the original gun case on top of the gun cabinet. He said he loaded magazines but never loaded a bullet in the chamber.
District Attorney Ryan Sayers charged the Klingensmith as an adult with:
- One count: Murder of the 3rd degree
- One count: Involuntary manslaughter
- Two counts: Aggravated assault
- One count: Recklessly endangering another person
Original story: Juveniles involved in ‘tragic’ Clearfield County shooting, state police investigating “This is a heartbreaking and tragic shooting that occurred on Sunday evening in Brady Township,” Sayers said. “In the interest of justice, the difficult decision was made to charge this juvenile as an adult, instead of remaining in the juvenile system. I would also like to commend all of the Troopers with the State Police for their hard work, quick response, and thorough investigation in regard to this matter.”
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The Pennsylvania State Police are being assisted by the Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County Juvenile Probation, and the offices of Clearfield and Jefferson County Children and Youth Services.
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