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Three family members charged in shooting of 9 year old Lancaster City boy

LANCASTER, PA (WPMT) Lancaster City Police charge three family members of a 9 year old boy who suffered a gunshot wound in his back on Easter.  It happened at 4...

LANCASTER, PA (WPMT) Lancaster City Police charge three family members of a 9 year old boy who suffered a gunshot wound in his back on Easter.  It happened at 4:30 pm April 5th along on the sidewalk in the 600 block of East Madison Street. The shot was fired from the basement of the home by a member of the child’s family.

Investigators say the home belongs to the boy’s father Jose Rentas.  The family apparently gathered together at the home for Easter. Police say Elaine Key, 25, the boy’s sister, had recently purchased a .380 caliber handgun and was showing it to people in the house.  At the suggest of Rentas, Key and her husband Samoad Anyea Key, 30, went to the basement for the purpose of test firing the handgun. She fired a single shot at target set up in front of a propped up door directly in front of the window facing the sidewalk outside.

The fired round went through the hollow core door and then through the basement window striking her young brother in the back. Police say a UGI Gas meter was also only a few feet away from the door.

Police say Rentas took the child to Lancaster General Hospital in his personal vehicle.  Samoad Key picked up the handgun and then he and his wife, Elaine went back to their home in the 400 block of South Shippen Street, where he hid the gun on the roof.  The couple were interviewed by police later in the evening. Detectives also recovered the handgun from where it was placed on the roof.

Detectives obtained three arrest warrants late Thursday afternoon for the three family members. Jose Rentas was taken into custody shortly before 3:30 pm at his Madison Street home. Police also arrested Audrianna Trees, of Mount Joy, who created a disturbance.  She was charged with Obstruction of Justice.

Samoad Key was arrested without incident at his S. Shippen Street home. Elaine Key, who was at work was contacted and turned herself in at the city police station shortly before 5 pm.

Elaine Key and Jose Rentas are both charged with Aggravated Assault, Causing or Risking a Catastrophe, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and Criminal Conspiracy.

Samoad Key is charged with Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution, Firearms Not to be Carried Without a License, Persons Not to Possess, Use Manufacture, Control, Sell or Transfer Firearms and Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence.

The injured child remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

 

 

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