Fathers “Warning Shot” Scares Off Attackers

When a 15-year-old boy tried to sell an iPhone, he was met by two men, one of which pointed a gun at him.

Barnstable Police report responding to a 911 call on Wednesday 9^th, at around 7:15 in the evening.

The youth and his father told police they had used Snapchat to get in contact with someone to purchase the phone for $450.

When a vehicle backed into the victims driveway, facing the exit perhaps for a quick get-a-way, the young man went out with his phone to complete the transaction.

When he walked up to the rear passenger window displaying the phone, the “buyer” pulled a white framed handgun from his pants and pointed at the boy.

Startled, the teen turned and ran, shouting “Gun!” He looked back behind him as he did, tripping and falling to the ground.

Seeing his son fall and hearing the warning, the father drew his own gun and fired a shot into the air, prompting the would-be robbers to immediately flee the scene.

Soon after the attack, Officers Joseph Green and Christopher Botsford pulled over a Toyota sedan as it was about to cross over into Yarmouth.

A search of the vehicle revealed a white framed semi-automatic handgun under the passenger seat. A search of the suspects pockets turned out ammunition.

According to the police report:

“GONSALVES, JACKSON, BRANDO, and BEGLEY were transported to the BPD and interviewed by patrol officer Frederickson and detectives Brian Guiney and Steven Barrett. During the course of the interviews it was determined that GONSALVES directed BEGLEY to drive and pick up JACKSON in the area of the Cape Cod Mall which at that time BRANDO was already in the vehicle.

Upon entering the vehicle, JACKSON had a black backpack with him and made statements referencing someone shooting at him prior to being picked up. It was also determined that JACKSON exited a vehicle in the area of the mall parking lot that had a female driver as well as at least one other occupant. It was shortly after picking up JACKSON that the motor vehicle stop (by officers) occurred.”

20-year-old Terron Jackson, and 20-year-old Dereck Gonsalves were taken in and positively identified by the victim.

Jackson was arrested for Attempted Armed Robbery, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Assault with a Firearm. Gonsalves, for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, and Accessory After the fact of Attempted Robbery.

Both men were held without bail pending a Dangerous Hearing, scheduled for tomorrow, the 15^th of January.

Warning shots are generally discouraged. Primarily because the shooter is responsible for the eventual landing place of each and every bullet. Within the confines of a city, it is impossible to be certain the bullet will not inadvertently land on some unsuspecting citizen.

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