Sharon shooting ignites conversation on how to curb gun violence
The Sharon community is still reeling 24 hours after 15-year-old Anthony "Tony" Keppel was shot and killed. 16-year-old Christopher Dickson Jr. is charged in the case as an adult with criminal homicide. The incident has ignited a conversation in Sharon on how to address the danger of guns and what the community can do to curb violence in general.
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The Sharon community is still reeling 24 hours after 15-year-old Anthony "Tony" Keppel was shot and killed. 16-year-old Christopher Dickson Jr. is charged in the case as an adult with criminal homicide.
The incident has ignited a conversation in Sharon on how to address the danger of guns and what the community can do to curb violence in general.
One piece of the solution could be more resource officers in the schools.
Sharon Police Chief Gerry Smith said he recently applied for a COPS grant in hopes of getting two more officers in the schools.
"Hopefully develop some type of anti-violence program or education to get these kids involved with after school programs on the weekends and things to prevent things like this," said Smith. "I think there is a lack of education with some of our kids on violence and things like that and there are way too many guns in hands of kids right now."
Police haven't disclosed where Dickson got the gun. Dickson is being held in the Mercer County Jail on a one million dollar bond.
Police have been mum on details of what lead up to the shooting. But a man who identified himself as the victim's uncle said it may have started over an argument.
"I heard it was over a sandwich," said Julio Cruz. "A little argument, playing around and he was accidentally shot in the chest."
Both the suspect and victim were students at Sharon High School. School officials say they were "good friends."
"Both kids were good kids academically, they're not bad kids and again I think any time you look at students you have ups and downs," said Sharon Principal Michael Fitzgerald. "But they're good kids, they were hard working kids, they were polite kids, very well mannered."
According to a criminal complaint, Dickson ran out of the house after the shooting on Meek Street and was picked up several hours later by police. According to the complaint, Dickson confessed during an interview with police that he is the one that shot and killed Keppel.
Dickson's defense could still argue to have the case handled in juvenile court.
Chief Smith said it will be up to the district attorney to determine if the criminal homicide charge is a first, second or third degree charge.
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