Death Of Teen Shot In Struggle Over Gun With Dad Ruled Homicide
CHICAGO (STMW) -- The death of a Rogers Park teen who was shot in the head last week when he and his father were struggling over a handgun has been ruled a homicide, an autopsy on Saturday found.
Terrance Johnson, 17, died from the gunshot wound Wednesday at 5:10 p.m. at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
His father, 53-year-old Charles Johnson, was charged with a felony count of unlawful use of a weapon, the Cook County state's attorney's office said. Bond was set at $50,000 for Johnson on Monday, according to records.
Authorities say the elder Johnson confronted his son after seeing a handgun of his sitting on the teen's desk last Saturday evening.
The two argued and the teen was accidentally shot in the head during an ensuing struggle at the family's home in the 1300 block of West Estes Avenue, police said.
"It appears the son had [the gun] and [the father] was trying to take it away from him," News Affairs officer Robert Perez said at the time. As they were wrestling over the gun, "it discharged in the process."
An autopsy on Saturday found that Terrance Johnson died from a gunshot wound to the face and his death was ruled a homicide, the medical examiner's office said.
Charles Johnson, who is a convicted felon and barred from owning a handgun, is scheduled to be back in court on Nov. 13.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
