Well, when I was a kid I did a similar thing with a baseball I fouled off. But we went directly to the greenhouse owner to tell him what happened, that it was us who did it, it was unintentional, and we would make ammends.
I had a paper route, and it took me about a month’s pay to settle. But I did.
That boy could at least have gone directly to the owner and told him what happened.
Right.
OFF WITH HIS BLOODY HEAD!
Yes, he should have owned up. And he should be punished for not owning up. And he definitely should pay for the accidental damage.
But the fact that he didn’t own up deserves punishment - not a life long label.