Father And Son Arrested After Boy Used Dad’s Gun To Shoot 13-Year-Old Girl

A heart-wrenching and alarming incident rocked the small town of Questa, New Mexico, leading to the arrest of both a 39-year-old father, William Brown, and his 14-year-old son.

The tragic event occurred on a seemingly ordinary Friday afternoon when the son was hanging out with a group of four teenagers, enjoying music at their home.

Shortly after the shooting, the father of the 14-year-old, William Brown, also returned home. Glenda Archuleta-Alnachef

In an unimaginable turn of events, the 14-year-old suddenly brandished a pistol, pointing it at a 13-year-old girl, and tragically, a shot was fired.

The young girl lost her life in the horrifying act. Disturbingly, the boy then made an incomprehensible decision to drag her lifeless body outside the house, leaving it there, before reentering the home.

The New Mexico State Police released a news statement, shedding light on this heartrending incident that has left the community in grief and disbelief.

In the aftermath of the tragic shooting, it was revealed that William Brown, the father of the 14-year-old boy, was not present at home during the incident.

However, he returned before the police could respond to the distressing situation. Upon their arrival, Brown refused to come outside for a prolonged period of 30 minutes.

Due to the heartbreaking events, Brown's son was apprehended and held at the San Juan Juvenile Detention Center.

Due to his young age, his identity has been withheld from the public. The gravity of the tragedy unfolded as the teenager responsible for the shooting faced serious charges, including first-degree murder, along with two counts of tampering with evidence and two counts of assault on a police officer.

Meanwhile, William Brown, the father, also found himself arrested and charged with making a firearm accessible to a minor, resulting in death.

William Brown, 39, was charged in connection to the shooting death. New Mexico State Police

Interestingly, the two juveniles who were witnesses to the devastating incident have not been charged with any crime.

The focus, however, remains on remembering Amber, the young victim. Her family has set up a GoFundMe page to support her father with funeral expenses during this unimaginably difficult time.

In the wake of this tragedy, her devastated family is now advocating for stricter gun laws, emphasizing that this heartrending incident could have been prevented.

Their call for action adds to the voices seeking solutions to the ongoing gun violence epidemic in the country.

"Amber was 13 years old when she was shot and killed on July 18, 2023, by her 14-year-old friend who she trusted. This friend had access to guns as his parents did not place their guns in a safe," says the victim's aunt Glenda Archuleta-Alnachef.

"These guns were freely accessible to their children or anyone who entered their home."

The family says they are organizing a march in Amber's memory and will use any extra donations to "raise funds to help bring awareness to the Questa Community and surrounding areas" about new gun control legislation in the state.

Alnachef describes Amber as "a beautiful soul who touched the lives of everyone who knew her," and an "amazing" artist and musician.

GoFundMe

"She was loved by so many and her death that could have been prevented is a tragedy not only to our family but to her community and humanity," says Alnachef.

"I am saddened by the tragedy that happened yesterday," Questa Village Mayor John Anthony Ortega said in a Facebook post. "My thoughts and prayers go out to the families, community members and First Responders who were affected by it."

These tragic incidents highlight the urgent need for responsible firearm ownership and safety measures.

Earlier this year, a six-year-old child in Newport News, Virginia, brought his mother's handgun to school, resulting in the injury of his first-grade teacher.

The child's mother, Deja Taylor, is now facing charges of felony child neglect. The six-year-old, being too young to comprehend the legal consequences, was not held accountable.

In another heart-wrenching case, a three-year-old girl in Texas accessed her parent's unsecured handgun while playing unsupervised, accidentally causing the death of her four-year-old sister.

Similarly, in July, a three-year-old in California unintentionally acquired their parent's firearm and tragically used it to fatally shoot their one-year-old sibling.

Authorities arrested both father and son after a 30-minute standoff. Google Maps

These devastating incidents underscore the importance of responsibly securing firearms and educating parents and caregivers about safe storage practices.

Preventing such heartbreak requires a collective effort to promote stricter gun safety laws and ensure that firearms are kept out of the reach of minors.

Only through comprehensive measures can we hope to mitigate the frequency of these preventable tragedies and protect innocent lives.