COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two teens who were arrested after shots were fired at Easton Town Center over the weekend had their initial court hearings this week.
A 16-year-old and a 17-year-old were taken into custody by officers with the Columbus Division of Police. Officials said no one was injured after shots rang out at the 4000 block of Gramercy Place, but a business was struck by gunfire.
Both teens were each charged with four counts of felonious assault, two counts of discharging firearms on prohibited premises and one count of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.
“The allegations before the court today contain seven felonies, each of which contain a possible weapon on the juvenile,” said Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Courtney Howard.
The 16-year-old's parents were in court on Tuesday and told the judge this wasn't his typical behavior and asked for him to be released. They said he does as they say and is respectable.
“He's learning how to drive, he has a job at a rec center. I'm working on getting him together to become a man. I don't want this happening to him,” the teen’s dad said.
The judge is keeping him in the detention center.
The Franklin County Prosecutor's Office asked that he be bound over and tried as an adult.
The teen's public defender told the judge he was a good kid.
“Mom and dad are shocked by the fact they are here. He has no prior record. This is not who their son is, it is not the behavior he exhibits -- certainly not on a regular basis,” said public defender Jeannie Mackowiak, who is representing the teen.
In a 911 call made the night of the shots fired incident, a person is heard telling dispatchers that she heard six or seven shots.
According to an incident report, police say two teens were seen pointing handguns towards people at Easton.
The 17-year-old did not appear in court on Wednesday after the prosecutor said he waived his appearance.
Defense attorneys said that the 17-year-old was an honor roll student and played football and sports. Attorneys added that he had never been in trouble before.
The Franklin County Prosecutor's Office asked that both teens be bound over and tried as adults.
This isn't the first shooting involving teens at Easton.
Last August, officers arrested a 13-year-old after they said he allegedly shot and killed a 15-year-old at the mall.
That teen's charges are on hold for now because the juvenile isn't competent to stand trial. The judge has ordered the teen to take classes to learn the court system to become competent.