Teen Shoots And Injures Another At Emergency Room Entrance

Monday, February 19th 2007, 8:43 pm

By: News On 6

MANSFIELD, Ohio (AP) _ A 14-year-old boy chased down a 15-year-old boy and shot him in the face at the entrance to a hospital emergency room, where the victim immediately sought treatment, authorities said Monday.

The suspect was tackled by a hospital security guard and placed in handcuffs as he tried to follow the victim inside Sunday evening, said Cindy Jakubick, a spokeswoman for MedCentral/Mansfield Hospital.

People waiting in the lobby may have seen the shooting, but no one else was hurt, said Mansfield police Sgt. Ken Coontz.

The victim, Jacques Sutton, was treated at the hospital and then flown to Columbus Children's Hospital, where a spokeswoman said he was in critical condition Monday.

The suspect, whose name wasn't released, was being held in a juvenile detention facility, Coontz said. A court appearance was set for Tuesday.

A hospital employee heard several teenage boys arguing near the street, and the altercation then moved toward the hospital in this city about 60 miles northeast of Columbus, Jakubick said.

Sutton apparently punched the 14-year-old in the face and tried to flee, then was shot once in the right cheek by a .22-caliber semiautomatic handgun, Coontz said. It was not clear whether the gun was fired intentionally, Lt. Dave Nirode said.