Teen Accused of Shooting Teen in Vernon Enters Plea in Court

VERNON, CT — A Vernon teen accused of shooting another Vernon teen on a night filled with booze and pot last month entered a plea Rockville Superior in court on Friday.

Joey Maddox entered a plea of not guilty to all his charges — 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, a clerk at the court said.

He did not post a $99,000 cash bond and remains in custody while awaiting his next appearance, March 24, a clerk at the court said.

Court documents tell a story of teens smoking pot, drinking liquor and handing a pistol with a scratched off serial number on Jan. 28, the night a 15-year-old was shot in the head in Vernon.

At 7:58 p.m. that night, 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 saw several people leaving the scene, including Maddox, 19, of 29 Grove St., in Rockville, according to police.

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 victim was in possession of a handgun, described in court papers as a .380-cal. Kel Tec.

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. The 15-year-old has been in Hartford Hospital.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel (courthouse), Vernon police (booking mug shot of Maddox)