Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Jilly_in_VA

(9,962 posts)
Tue Dec 28, 2021, 04:53 PM Dec 2021

Parents charged after 13-year-old shoots 5-year-old brother to death

The parents of a 5-year-old boy who was shot and killed by his older brother last month are now facing charges, CBS Pittsburgh reports. Thomas Wolfe and Sara Gerwig have been charged with endangering the welfare of children.

Police said their 13-year-old son got his hands on the couple's handgun at the family's home in the suburb of Penn Hills last month and shot his younger brother in the face.

Court documents say Wolfe admitted he left the gun on top of a gun safe and said the gun was always loaded with a live round in the chamber.

Gerwig said all four of their children were staying in a first floor bedroom because the electricity had stopped working on the second floor. The gun was on the first floor.

Police said they found multiple safes and trigger locks in the home, but none were being used.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/parents-charged-13-year-old-shoots-5-year-old-brother-dead-penn-hills-pittsburgh-suburb/

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Parents charged after 13-year-old shoots 5-year-old brother to death (Original Post) Jilly_in_VA Dec 2021 OP
Good. Scrivener7 Dec 2021 #1
Multiple Safes & Trigger Locks SoCalDavidS Dec 2021 #2
Well... not everyone lives. Scrivener7 Dec 2021 #3
Great Life Ahead For The Brother SoCalDavidS Dec 2021 #4
Not to mention... regnaD kciN Dec 2021 #6
From the linked article: femmedem Dec 2021 #7
And gunners never learn . . . AndyS Dec 2021 #5

SoCalDavidS

(9,998 posts)
4. Great Life Ahead For The Brother
Tue Dec 28, 2021, 04:59 PM
Dec 2021

One would think killing your brother, I assume by accident, is something that would destroy someone's life. Of course, it's possible the son is a future gun humper who won't dwell on this for that long.

If it were me, I'd be devastated and it would hurt me every day of my life from that point forward. Of course, I was not brought up around guns, and never will have one.

regnaD kciN

(26,044 posts)
6. Not to mention...
Tue Dec 28, 2021, 05:43 PM
Dec 2021

…probably spending the rest of his youth in foster care after his parents get sent to prison, and knowing he’s responsible for that as well.

femmedem

(8,199 posts)
7. From the linked article:
Tue Dec 28, 2021, 07:43 PM
Dec 2021

"He told them he became angry with his siblings for jumping on the bed and got his father's gun to try to scare them. He told them he thought the safety was on when he pointed the gun and pulled the trigger."

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Pennsylvania»Parents charged after 13-...