Are Parents of Minor Criminally Liable for Shooting?

Thomas Polanco

According to Travis’ father, Thomas Polanco, the sixteen-gauge shotgun used in the shooting by the year old, is the weapon utilized by the minor’s family for hunting.  Police have since questioned the parents of the boy who pulled the trigger and they have been released. Now, the nine year old is under the age of criminal liability and then there is the other matter to determine if his parents are negligent for leaving the weapon unsecured in the house and in the reach of a child.  Still, Polanco says there is need for parents to exercise caution.

Thomas Polanco, Father of Shooting Victim

“The next thing, di father like ker ih son dah bush go hunt and dehn thing deh, so maybe he teach ahn fi use the gun. And that dah the wrong part of the story because he shouldn’t teach a kid how to use a gun; you should wait till ih reach wah certain age. And you can’t lef pikney by themselves home like that with a gun in a dehn house without yo have it in a secure place. So I noh know…it rough.”