12-year-old boy died after a 17-year-old boy he was recording a video involving real guns with shot him to death; 17-year-old boy charged
Pennsylvania – In a shocking incident in Pennsylvania, a 17-year-old boy whose name has not been released due to his age is facing serious charges after a tragic shooting that left a 12-year-old boy, identified as E. Parker, dead during what police described as a music video recording gone horribly wrong. The teenager has been charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and related offenses following the fatal shooting of Parker on Saturday afternoon.
Authorities said the shooting occurred around 12:30 p.m. at a residence, where Parker was with the teen suspect and another 15-year-old. According to law enforcement, the group had been making a music video with several weapons present — including at least one real firearm. That weapon discharged during the filming, striking Parker in the chest. Emergency responders rushed the unresponsive child to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead just before 1 p.m.
Investigators later confirmed that footage of the incident — believed to have been recorded during the video shoot — was recovered and is now a central part of the investigation. “Footage of the music video is one of the key pieces of information that [authorities] are in possession of,” said Police Inspector D. Pace during a press conference on Sunday. Officials are working to secure warrants for the devices that may contain the footage, believing they could shed more light on exactly how the gun went off and who was responsible. “We do believe that those phones or any other recording equipment may provide some very, very valuable information that will help us understand what exactly occurred,” Pace noted.
The 17-year-old suspect allegedly fired the gun that killed Parker, although police have not confirmed whether the shooting was accidental or reckless. Inspector Pace also stated that while some of the weapons recovered from the scene were fake or BB guns, one was a real firearm, and questions remain about how it ended up in the hands of teens. “Obviously there were live guns there… so how that live gun got there, who it belongs to, that is still all under investigation. There may be additional charges pending,” Pace said.
The senseless death of Parker has devastated the neighborhood and sparked outcry over gun access and safety among youth. “In the middle of the day, shooting a video and playing with guns, it should not happen. That is very shocking. I’m at a loss for words now,” one of the neighbors interviewed told local news sources, expressing the disbelief felt throughout the community. Staff Inspector E. Ransom echoed this sentiment and warned other teens about the dangers of handling firearms. “These are not toys, they’re not meant to be played with, and if you cannot legally possess a gun you should not have a gun,” he said in a public statement.
As of Sunday, the 17-year-old has been formally charged and is expected to face the court in the coming days. Police continue to investigate the source of the firearm and are exploring the possibility of charging adults who were present in the home at the time of the shooting. Though authorities have yet to confirm whether the shooting was intentional or a tragic accident, the consequences have already proven fatal. A child’s life was cut short in a matter of seconds — and now, another young person faces a future shaped by devastating choices. This case has once again ignited serious concerns around children’s access to firearms, the role of adult supervision, and the dangers of mixing real weapons with social media trends and unsupervised creative projects. For the family of Parker, it is a heartbreaking loss that no sentence or investigation can undo.
