RE: Man Shoots Kid for stealing pumpkins
- To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
- Subject: RE: Man Shoots Kid for stealing pumpkins
- From: T* P* M*
- Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 10:43:01 PDT
- List-Archive: <http://www.mallorn.com/lists/pumpkins/> (Web Archive)
Man charged with shooting teen over stolen pumpkin
08:37 p.m Oct 19, 1999 Eastern
BUENA PARK, Calif., Oct 19 (Reuters) - A California man who allegedly shot
and killed a 17-year-old boy for stealing a Halloween pumpkin from his yard
has been arrested and may face murder charges, a Buena Park police spokesman
said on Tuesday.
Pete Solomona, 47, was arrested on Monday night after telling police he
accidentally shot Brandon Ketzdever with his .357 Magnum handgun during a
confrontation with the teenager and two of his friends over the stolen
pumpkin.
Ketzdever, who was shot in the head while sitting in his car in front of
Solomona's house in Buena Park, about 35 miles (55 kms) south of Los
Angeles, died on Tuesday morning at a local hospital.
Ketzdever's two friends, who were not identified by authorities, fled after
the shooting but were later found by police. One of the boys was treated for
minor injuries sustained when he was hit by bullet fragments.
Buena Park police spokesman Chris Nunez said Solomona's wife and several
neighbours called authorities after the shooting, and Solomona surrendered
to officers at his house. He is being held without bail pending an
arraignment on Wednesday.
Nunez said Solomona, who was arrested on suspicion of murder, told police
his gun discharged accidentally during a confrontation with the three boys,
who had stolen his pumpkin as a prank minutes earlier.
``The suspect was at home watching TV, and heard a noise and noticed his
pumpkin missing and a car driving away,'' Nunez said. ``In just a matter of
minutes the car came back through and provided the suspect with an
opportunity to confront them.''
Nunez said Solomona told police that ``when he asked why they took his
Halloween decorations, the handgun discharged and hit the driver.''
Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication and
redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior
written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or
delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
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