Boys arrested for air gun assaults

Two boys, aged 12 and 13, are facing charges after they allegedly assaulted other children with an air gun over the last few months.

Their victims, two boys and two girls, were also aged 12 and 13. None of the victims were harmed in the incidents.

Greater Sudbury Police received a complaint about the suspects June 6.

On one occasion, the 12-year-old suspect entered a home, uninvited, and chased one victim with the air gun to scare them, according to police. In a separate incident, the 12-year-old suspect and the 13-year-old suspect allegedly entered the same home to shoot two of the victims.

The 12-year-old suspect has been charged with four counts of assault with a weapon, possession of a dangerous weapon, break and enter with intent and break and enter to commit assault. He is due to appear in bail court June 7.

The 13-year-old suspect has been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, possession of a dangerous weapon and break and enter to commit assault. He is due to appear in youth court in July.

Air guns should be used by caution, and youths should only use them under adult supervision, a press release from Greater Sudbury Police stated.

“They are capable of inflicting injury, and due to their similarity to real firearms, can provoke unintended reactions from bystanders,” the press release said. “As in this incident, their misuse can result in criminal charges.”

-Posted by Heidi Ulrichsen