Racine boy killed in accidental shooting, brother pleads no contest
Jesus "Chu-Cho" Valladares (photo provided by family)
RACINE, Wis. - A Racine teen, who said he accidentally shot and killed his younger brother earlier this year, pleaded no contest on Tuesday to homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon.
In Court:
Prosecutors originally charged the 17-year-old, who was 16 years old at the time, with first-degree reckless homicide.
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The 17-year-old pleaded no contest to the lesser charge on Tuesday, and the court found him guilty. He is scheduled to be sentenced in January.
Racine boy shot, killed
The backstory:
The shooting happened at a home near Howard and Prospect on May 16. Police said the victim, 11-year-old Jesus "Chu-Chu" Valladares, was taken to a hospital where he ultimately died. The victim's brother was arrested.
According to a criminal complaint, a family member heard a loud bang from a gun and went into the living room to find the teen holding a gun and Valladares on the floor, unable to breathe.
Prosecutors said other people who were home at the time told investigators they heard the gunshot and saw Valladares on the floor with a gunshot wound. They said the brothers were "close" and the teen "would not shoot" Valladares.
The teen said he was "playing with the gun" and Valladares tried to take it from him because he knew they shouldn't be playing with guns, per the complaint. He said he thought the gun had the safety on, but it went off when the teen tried to grab the gun back from his younger brother. He said the shooting was "an accident."
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Dig deeper:
Court filings said, hours before the shooting, the family had been at a cemetery to celebrate the birthday of a family member who had previously passed away.
Prosecutors said another family member told police that the gun is "normally not loaded," but she loaded a single bullet with the intention of firing a shot into the air at the cemetery. The shot was never fired, she said, and that's why there was a bullet in the gun. She also said she threw the gun in the river.
Editor's note: This story was updated with a clarification.
The Source: Information in this report is from the Racine Police Department, Racine County District Attorney's Office and FOX6 News interviews with the victim's family.