Accused Vernon Teen Shooter Enters Plea in Court

VERNON, CT — A teen accused of shooting another teen in the head in January has entered a not guilty plea in his criminal case, a clerk at the county courthouse said Monday.

Joey Maddox, 19, appeared in Rockville Superior Court Friday, a clerk said. He is still being held in a $99,000 cash bond and is due back before a judge on May 12, a clerk at the courthouse said.

Documents at Rockville Superior Court paint a picture if teens smoking pot, drinking liquor and handing a pistol with a scratched off serial number the night a 15-year-old was shot in the head in Vernon.

On Jan. 28, at 7:58 p.m., Vernon Police received a 911 call reporting a shooting at 102 Talcott Ave. in the Rockville section of town, according to police records. Officers found a 15-year-old male from Rockville with a gunshot wound to the head, police said.

Officers also found several people leaving the scene, including Maddox, who resides at 29 Grove St., in Rockville, Meier said.

Maddox has been charged with first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, the criminal possession of a firearm, risk of injury to minor, possession of a weapon with an altered ID, the unlawful discharge of a firearm and possession of marijuana, Meier said. The incident is still being investigated, police said.

According to court documents, Maddox and the victim — the terminology used in the affidavit for the 15-year-old who was shot — were drinking "New Amsterdam Liquor," smoking marijuana and rapping live on a social media site. Others were present, according to court papers.

The 15-year-old was in possession of a handgun, later described as a .380-cal. Kel Tec, according to court documents. Police noticed the serial number has been scratched off when it was handed over to them, according to court documents.

Witnesses told police that Maddox had the gun in his hand, seemingly to play with it, but then pointed it at the victim, court papers indicate. The victim leaned toward the gun, according to court documents. Maddox then cocked the gun, it went off and the victim fell, according to court documents. Maddox then left the scene, but was later tracked down nearby, according to court documents.

Photo Credit: Vernon police (booking mug shot of Maddox)