Two suspects have been arrested in yesterday’s shooting at Bellaire High School in Houston, Texas. Initially, it was reported that the victim, Cesar Cortes, was 16-years-old but it has since been reported that he was 19-years-old at the time of his untimely passing.
Police have ruled the shooting as accidental. The victim was said to have been shot by his 16-year-old friend accidentally when the 16-year-old shooter took the gun out of his waistband and pulled the trigger thinking. According to police, all evidence collected indicates that the suspect did not intend to kill Cortes and by all accounts, the pair were on friendly terms. The suspect has been charged with manslaughter as a juvenile. The second teen was released without charges.
Many people in the Houston area have been wondering on social media why the suspect wasn’t charged with murder. The DA responded to news requests by saying that “the evidence shows that the suspect did not intentionally shoot the victim but it was reckless.”
The more important question should be where did the suspect obtain the gun? Then again this is Texas we’re talking about. It will be interesting to see if any charges are brought against whoever allowed the 16-year-old to have a gun in his possession.
The .32 caliber pistol has yet to be recovered.
(Sources)
KHOU
UPI
The Ridgefield Press
KHOU
Real Crime with Trench Reynolds 