NEW CASTLE, Ind. – A 13-year-old is arrested for murder following a deadly shooting in New Castle.
According to the New Castle Police Department, officers responded around 8:35 p.m. Tuesday to South 21st and A Avenue for what initially appeared to be a hit-and-run involving a pedestrian.
Police found a man covered in blood and lying in the road. As officers administered aid, neighbors told police they believed they’d heard gunshots in the area. Officers and emergency medics then discovered the man had injuries consistent with a gunshot wound.
“It’s scary as heck. I thought they were going to shoot through the windows,” said neighbor Rick Shelton.
When Rick and other neighbors looked outside, they saw a man covered in blood lying in the street.
“He was spitting up a lot of blood,” said David Hadley.
“I’ve never seen blood like that. I don’t know how he had any left in him,” said Shelton.
Police rushed that victim, 47-year-old Ernest Thornsberry Jr., from the scene to the hospital. He later died from his injuries.
“It just tears my family apart,” said family friend Defena Abbott.
Defena Abbott claimed the victim was visiting her son at a home near where he was shot. She said the 47-year-old was like family to her son.
“My son said he is a brother he never had. It’s just devastating to all of us,” said Abbott.
With the community’s help, New Castle police interviewed four persons of interest and arrested a 13-year-old for the murder.
“There is no relationship we’re aware of between the suspect and the victim,” said New Castle Assistant Police Chief Justin Wardlow.
Assistant Chief Wardlow says for now the motive for the killing remains unclear.
“When you have a 13-year-old who does this, it’s a tragic situation, but even worse is that it does appear to be kind of a random senseless act of violence,” said Wardlow.
“Nobody knows why he did it. It’s weird,” said Shelton.
Because the murder suspect is underage their name is not being released. The other three people interviewed were released without charges.
