Syracuse teen accidentally shoots best friend, then kills himself
A Syracuse teen accidentally shot his 13-year-old best friend on the South Side, then killed himself. The younger boy was later declared brain dead as police warned about illegal guns.
A 16-year-old Syracuse boy accidentally shot his 13-year-old best friend inside a home at 198 Lincoln Ave. around 9:13 p.m. on June 24, then turned the gun on himself and died at the scene.
The 13-year-old, Jonah Tanner, was rushed to Upstate University Hospital and later, his parents said, was brain dead. His family said they were moving ahead with organ donation, and relatives have begun raising money to cover funeral costs and expenses tied to the donation process. The boys were inseparable.
Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said the first shot appeared accidental. He said the older boy, identified as Damarion Jones, seemed overwhelmed by guilt before shooting himself. Police said the boys were friends, and Police Chief Mark Rusin described the case as an isolated incident.
Rusin said officers found a gun at the scene but could not confirm whether it was the weapon used in the shooting. He would not describe exactly how the weapon was obtained.
Sgt. Tom Blake said juveniles are not buying guns legally from stores. “They’re obtaining these illegally,” he said. Rusin said Syracuse police were aware of 27 illegal community guns on city streets and appealed for help locating them. “Someone knows where they are. Someone knows where they’re stashed,” he said.
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