NEWARK, Ohio — A 17-year-old boy was arrested Monday after Newark police say he shot a woman while confronting another teenager about a video game console and a pair of shoes.
Newark Police Deputy Chief John Brnjic said officers received a call about a possible drive-by shooting on North Morris Street around 1:40 p.m.
Officers arrived at the scene and found a 60-year-old woman who was shot in her legs. Officers provided aid until medics arrived.
The woman was taken to Mount Carmel East hospital in Columbus and transferred to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for treatment. The extent of her injuries is not known at this time, but police believe the injuries are not life-threatening.
Officers were informed of a group of juveniles in two different vehicles that had left the scene. Deputies with the Licking County Sheriff’s Office who were in the area located the vehicles and found a 17-year-old boy with a rifle and shell casings inside one of them.
After detaining several juveniles inside the vehicles for questioning, detectives learned that the 17-year-old boy went to the woman’s house to confront another teenager about a PlayStation 4 console and a pair of shoes.
Police determined that the 17-year-old fired his weapon during the confrontation and was later arrested.
Detectives will present the case to the Licking County Prosecutor's Office to bring forth an attempted murder charge against the juvenile.
Brnjic said gun violence is a problem that is growing.
"Unfortunately, there have been a lot of reports of juveniles using weapons not only in Licking County but all-over Central Ohio," he said, adding more parents need to be aware of what their kids are doing and where they are at.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Newark Division of Police at 740-670-7215.