By Marci Laehr Tenuta
Journal Times | Posted: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 12:00 am
RACINE - The 18-year-old suspect in an accidental shooting of a 14-year-old girl at an underage drinking party last month has been arrested by Racine police.
Andrew J. Keeran of 3040 Glendale Ave. was charged Wednesday in Racine County Circuit Court. He is charged with first-degree reckless endangerment of safety with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by an adjudged delinquent and three counts of bail jumping, all as a repeat offender. A cash bond was set at $15,000.
Police had been looking for Keeran, a Park High School student, since the Oct. 18 shooting at his grandparent's house on Glendale Avenue. The $25,000 warrant for his arrest was served Tuesday at the Racine County Jail.
According to the criminal complaint against him, a 14-year-old Case High School student was grazed by a bullet during a party at the Glendale home, but didn't report her injury until she went to school the following Monday morning.
Officers were called to the high school after the girl went to the nurse and said she received a grazing gunshot wound to her leg. She was taken to Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital, 3801 Spring St., where she was treated for the superficial wound. She was then interviewed by police about how she was injured.
Police said she told them she was supposed to be staying overnight at a friend's house, but they left and went to a party at Keeran's house instead.
During the party Keeran allegedly pulled a handgun out of a lock box and put it in his waistband. Reports said he talking with the victim and playing with the gun when it discharged into the basement floor.
Police said the bullet ricochetted and grazed the girl's leg, just below the knee.
Friends apparently helped her clean the wound. They told officers they spent the night at the house on Glendale, and then went back to the home they were supposed to be sleeping at the next morning.
On Oct. 20, the girl went to school and told the nurse about her wound. School officials then contacted authorities.
Police executed a search warrant at the Glendale Avenue home that day. The owners of the home told officers they had been out of town and their grandson was not supposed to be at the residence during their absence.
During the search, police found the scene of the shooting in the basement, recovered some ammunition and found a locked box in Keeran's bedroom. After obtaining a search warrant for the locked box, authorities found the gun used in the shooting.