Teen charged after friend dies following accidental shooting

COLUMBUS – A 17-year-old is now facing a charge of reckless homicide after another teen died from a gunshot wound sustained when the two were playing with a gun that accidentally went off.

Keontae Harper and Denarius Crowder were playing with handguns in a home in the 2900 block of Falcon Bridge Drive on the Southeast Side on April 22 when they began pointing the guns at each other in a joking manner and Crowder accidentally shot the 16-year-old Harper, who died Tuesday at a hospital, Sgt. David Shimberg of the Columbus police homicide unit said.

12-year-old shot near school

A 12-year-old was listed in stable condition after being shot near a West Side elementary school Tuesday afternoon, police said.

The youth was shot while several people were involved in a large fight outside Eakin Elementary School in the 3700 block of Eakin Road at approximately 3:25 p.m., Sgt. Scott Soha of the Columbus police Felony Assault Unit said.

Officers responded to the 800 block of Wedgewood Drive and found the boy, who was taken to a local hospital, Soha said.

This incident is still under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Columbus police Felony Assault Unit at 614-645-4141 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).