Teen arrested after shooting in Easton has first court hearing

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A 16-year-old who was arrested after shots were fired in downtown Easton over the weekend had his first court hearing Tuesday.

The teen was taken into custody by Columbus Division of Police officers alongside a 17-year-old. Police said no one was injured after gunshots rang out in the 4000 block of Gramercy Place, but a business was hit by gunfire.

RELATED: Police: 2 teens in custody after shots fired in downtown Easton; no injuries reported

The two teens were each charged with four counts of felonious assault, two counts of discharging firearms on prohibited premises and one count of improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle .

“The allegations brought before the court today contain seven felonies, each of which involves a possible weapon being used on the juvenile,” said Franklin County Prosecutor Courtney Howard.

The 16-year-old's parents were in court and told the judge this was not his usual behavior and asked for his release. They said he did what they said and was respectable.

“He’s learning to drive, he’s working in a leisure center. I'm working on bringing him together to become a man. I don’t want this to happen to him,” the teenager’s father said.

The judge keeps him in the detention center.

The Franklin County Prosecutor's Office asked that he be bound and tried as an adult.

The teen's public defender told the judge he was a good child.

“Mom and Dad are shocked to be here. He has no criminal record. It’s not who their son is, it’s not the behavior he exhibits — certainly not on a regular basis,” said public defender Jeannie Mackowiak, who represents the teen.

In a 911 call made the night of the shooting incident, a person can be heard telling dispatchers that they heard six or seven gunshots.

According to an incident report, police say two teenagers were seen pointing handguns at people in Easton.

The other teen allegedly involved in the shooting is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

This is not the first shooting involving teenagers in Easton.

Last August, officers arrested a 13-year-old after they said he allegedly shot and killed a 15-year-old at the mall.

The charges against this teenager are stayed at this time because the juvenile is not competent to stand trial. The judge ordered the teen to take classes to learn the legal system to become proficient.