WILMINGTON, Ohio — A 14-year-old boy charged in connection with a killing that happened on Saturday afternoon turned himself in Monday evening.
Wilmington police chief Ron Cravens said the Clinton County prosecutor's office has charged the 14-year-old, a Wilmington Middle School student, with felonious assault and reckless homicide.
“Wilmington is a very safe place to reside,” Cravens said. “Acts like this are very uncommon for us. This is only our third homicide in the past 5 years or so. It's uncommon and shocking to us."
Police were initially called to Darbyshire Drive around 4:37 p.m. on Saturday, where King was suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was taken to Clinton Memorial Hospital, where he died from his injury. King was a 2018 graduate of Wilmington High School, Cravens said.
Kristi Garman, a family friend of King's, said her kids, King and the 14-year-old were all together in her living room before a single shot rang out.
"I heard a gunshot go off and I heard Caleb screaming," said Garmen. "I ran out and Caleb was in a fetal position sitting on the floor."
She said the kids told her they were playing around when the 14-year-old shot King in the stomach.
“I love the kid. But what he did is unforgivable,” Garmen said. “He took someone's life.”
Cravens said the Wilmington Police Department is working with the Clinton County prosecutor's office, the Clinton County Sheriff's office, The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
You can watch the full press conference below:
