Teen Dead, Another Wounded In Burglary

Alabama Mobile Police make arrests in the death of a 17 year old boy in the Indian Hills community.

by Steve Alexander

Published: Wed, December 17, 2008 - 8:56 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, December 17, 2008 - 10:34 pm CST

A double shooting in a Prichard neighborhood has left a 17 year old boy dead and a 15 year old girl wounded.
Three teenagers are being charged with murder.
The shooting happened shortly after 12:30 Wednesday afternoon at a home in the 5000 block of Gaynor Road.
Prichard Police have not released the names of the shooting victims, but they said the 17 year old was shot several times and later died at U.S.A. Medical Center.
They said the 15 year old girl was treated and released from the hospital.
Police said the 17 year old and 15 year old were friends.
Two people who live in the area told News Five the 17 year old was kind and thoughtful.
One woman who didn't want to be identified said, "Its devastating to me because that kid, I grew up with him and he grew up with me. I've got him on pictures of riding on four wheelers, cleaning this neighborhood up. He's a good kid."
Carolyn Vaughn lives across the street from where the shooting happened and told a similar story about the victim.
Vaughn said, "After my husband died two years ago, he would always come over and check on me and if strangers came in the yard, he'd check and see if I was okay. They're a good family, really good neighbors."
The woman who didn't want to be identified said recently there have been problems in the neighborhood.
She said, "There's been a lot of younger kids not going to school roaming the streets all hours of the night, drinking, drugging."
And she said people who live on Gaynor Road have been threatened.
She said, "I've been threatened quite a few times, as a matter of fact. I was told I was a target."
When asked why, she said, "Trying to keep the neighborhood cleaned up, and keep drug activities, and house break-ins and stuff like that clear."
And the woman who didn't want to be identified said the shooting victim had been threatened, too.
She said, "They had told him they would get him and, a few weeks ago, there was graffiti written all over the signs."
Prichard Police have arrested 17 year old Thomas John Berg of Eight Mile and two 15 year old boys, also from the Prichard area.
All three will be charged with murder, attempted murder, first degree burglary and second degree assault.
Police believe all three went to the home to rob the 17 year old and others inside.

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BamaBob Says:

Fri, Dec 26, 2008 at 8:23 am

Fry ‘em!

Something is wrong with young people these days. They have no respect for life and fail to recognize the real consequences of their actions. Has society failed? Parents? Genetics? Probably all three, but if these kids plotted to kill this young guy that goes beyond burglary and should be considered a capital offense!

Jlynnsmom Says:

Fri, Dec 26, 2008 at 1:01 am

This is sad. Noone deserves to be killed this way. Seems he was standing up to the local thugs. May his family take comfort in knowing he can’t be hurt anymore and he is the reason these thugs are now off the street. Most guns are gotten illegally, burglaries, robberies, these aren’t your upstanding citizens that buy guns legally. Taking guns from helpless victims is not the answer either. Also, if children decide to be grown up and quit school, they should be sent to a mandatory boot camp and some type of military service or community service lock down to be supervised. Most parents can’t control these little thugs anymore and are scared of their own children. Something has to be done to crack down on teen crime. It is a sad state these days. I am a strong proponent of the death penalty but for younger offenders, life without is the best punishment as they can grow old in prison…death is too easy. Sorry for your loss.

KxVicious Says:

Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 9:18 pm

Prison, or “con college” as I like to call it, will do nothing but teach these kids how to get better at their crimes, and give them a network of thugs and gangsters to help them get in more trouble when they get out.

We do not hand out the death penalty enough.

AEubanks Says:

Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 7:52 pm

I most deffinately agree with what Carl says! i think they should be tried as adults!! especially since the boys had been threatening him!!! it’s really too bad that something wasnt done before my friend josh had to die! but this whole gang thing says basically if you go to the law your a snitch! well, i used to think the same way but when your lifes in danger what do you do? especially seeing how what them boys have done has hurt the hearts of josh’s family and all of his good friends! I just hope whatever judge these boys have is not sympathetic towards them just cause they are young! i hope they get exactly what they deserve! and one again to josh’s family and to his girlfriend! I AM SO VERY SORRY FOR YALLS LOSS AND I WILL DEFFINATELY KEEP YALL IN MY PRAYERS!

carl Says:

Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 12:07 pm

A friend of JOSH said they had been threatening to shoot him for a while and finally worked up enough gang courage to carry it out.LIFE with no parole for all involved wouldn’t be too harsh for these young thugs so as to make an example for others.Send them to the big boys prison and they’ll grow up real quick. Condolences to his wife and baby and family members.

AEubanks Says:

Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 11:56 am

thats right if they think they are grown their names should published! i know they name of the victim i put that on here in case a family member or someone who was close might see and can email me the service place and times…. and yeah parents deffinately need to keep closer checks on their children i bet it would help out more towards saving another young friend of mine and others’ life! i really hope the family gets through this very hard time i know that they were all good people and they didnt deserve this even the one that died he did not desrve this at all cause he was really tryin to do the right thing! EVERYONE NEEDS TO KEEP THIS FAMILY IN THEIR PRAYERS! I KNOW THEY ARE IN MINE

cmb1 Says:

Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 11:31 am

kaykay the problem is there getting the guns from home….

kaykay Says:

Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 9:38 am

this is another sad tragedy involving children. we need to know what our children are doing who they are hanging with. where do these guns come from? how are these children getting these guns? parents need to start searching these children rooms to make sure these weapons are not being keep in their homes. oh if these children think they are grown let the news start publishing the names no matter how young or old they are.

KxVicious Says:

Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 11:40 pm

Amanda, the names have not been released, so without knowing the name of the deceased—no one is going to know when the services are.

By the way, seems like Granny’s taking up arms—medieval style. I wonder if she knows that she shouldn’t bring an arrow to a gun fight?

AEubanks Says:

Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 11:20 pm

does anyone know when the funeral will be??? if so please get in touch with me my name is amanda eubanks my e-mail address is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) thankyou so much