Judge Rips Up Case of Boys’ Paper Guns
A Superior Court judge threw out a case against two 8-year-old boys charged with making a dangerous threat by pointing a paper gun at classmates.
“This should never have landed in the courts. They were just two 8-year-old kids being 8-year-old kids,” said Gerald Kelly, the attorney who represented one of the boys.
The incident occurred March 15 at the Augusta Street School in Irvington, which has a “zero-tolerance” policy regarding violence.
Essex County Judge Peter Ryan dismissed the charges on the recommendation of prosecutors after they were satisfied that the boys were only playing.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
