A boy of 13-years was shot dead after he tried stealing from a car. The boy's death was described by people as a terrible tragedy considering his young age.
Martinez Smith-Payne
Martinez Smith-Payne was found unconscious and bleeding in a back alley when police were called about a shooting in St Louis, Missouri at 12:47 am Sunday. He died in hospital.
"Investigation revealed the victim, along with two other juveniles, was attempting to steal items from an unlocked parked vehicle when the suspect confronted them, then fired shots at the juveniles," St Louis police said in a statement.
The shooter, who was identified as a 60-year-old black man, was immediately taken into custody. He was released after prosecutors "refused" a police request to press charges, the statement said.
Prosecutors called the boy's death a "a terrible tragedy" but said "Missouri law regarding a homeowner’s right to protect himself and his property is complicated."
A boy with the same name was reported missing by his parents in June. A local news report said Martinez Smith-Payne had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder and that his parents feared he had run away from home without his medications. The boy, who lost four fingers in a fireworks accident at the age of 10, was found a few days later.
The man who shot and killed a 13-year-old boy as he was stealing from an unlocked car was arrested but US prosecutors declined to press charges, police said.
AFP