RIO COMMUNITIES — A Rio Communities teenager could be charged with negligent use of a firearm after the discharge of a handgun Saturday evening.
Valencia County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of two juveniles injured in a drive-by shooting on the 300 block of Gorman Avenue about 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 30.
Initially, the boy and his girlfriend, both 17, told deputies they were injured when someone shot at them on the street. However, the blood and casing found inside the home made it clear that wasn’t the case.
“He said he was attempting to unload the gun, a 9mm handgun, when it went off,” said VCSO Lt. Joe Rowland. “It grazed his arm and broke hers.”
The sheriff’s office is working with the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office to determine if the boy will face charges, Rowland said.
Julia M. Dendinger began working at the VCNB in 2006. She covers Valencia County government, Belen Consolidated Schools and the village of Bosque Farms. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists Rio Grande chapter’s board of directors.
