Posted on 02/25/2008 6:04:37 AM PST by Sopater
A Philadelphia teenager celebrating his 16th birthday is fighting for his life after a shooting over a snowball fight.
Authorities said the Feltonville teen, identified as Tavin Rutledge, was shot in the head at point-blank range while playing with neighborhood friends in the 4800 block of D Street.
Witnesses say the shooting was sparked from a casual snowball fight amongst children.
"Everyone was playing and throwing snowballs and one little boy ran and got his dad. His dad came around with a gun and shot him," said Renay Reeves, Tavin's aunt.
Police said an adult male used a gun to express anger over an errant snowball.
Family and friends celebrating Tavin's birthday heard the gunshots and ran to his side.
"We ran outside and saw Tavin laying on the step," said the victim's friend Mercedes Lebron. "When I picked him up, smoke stared coming out of his head … He still was breathing and we told him keep breathing, calm down."
Tavin was rushed to Temple University hospital where he was placed on life-support. As of Monday morning he remained in critical condition.
"He was a nice boy. He was a very cute boy. Everybody liked him, he was funny," said Reeves.
Philadelphia police detectives said they are actively searching for the gunman and are pursuing several good leads.
Keepin’ it real.
Never EVER Bring a snowball to a gun fight.
I’m not going to say it.
Wow....
Unless they were trying to pummel the kid to death with ice balls....
The kid probably should’ve thrown his snowballs at police cars, as we did on the S. Side of Chicago. Safer.
You just wait. Someone is going to post you that you made jokes and this is serious stuff.
Having your hair and hat soaked with cold water in 40 degree weather inspires you to stop throwing snowballs and get home to dry off.
What’s a white-wash? (so.cal. native)
Really odd story. Wonder if there is more to it than what is in this article?
whitewash.. when I was growing up it meant getting a nice bug chunk of snow in one hand (if the snow was a little damp and good for throwing), then chasing the offender down, restraining their arms your free arm, and smearing their face with the snow. Or, if the snow was too powdery, you’d chase someone down, tackle them, then half push their face in the powder with one hand and lift and smear powder on it with the other.
Reliably not too pleasant a thing to have done to you, but it does beat a hard thrown snowball to the face. Or a bullet for that matter D-:<
one little boy ran and got his dad.
I didn't know you could do that in Philadelphia.
So much for the “City of Brotherly Love”
Ah...a mud bath:’)
doesn’t last as long as a mud bath, but get enough snow on their bare skin and it will sting mercilessly for a few minutes afterward.
My grandmother saved some snowballs for my boys. She kept them in the freezer. I was a “meanie” for taking them away before the kids seriously hurt each other:’)
Hmmmmm. Good thing Santa wasn’t packing an UZI in his bag of goodies at that Eagles game then.
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