Boy, 15, Shot Friend, 14, Twice In East Coventry: DA

EAST COVENTRY, PA — A 15-year-old boy faces attempted murder charges after he shot a 14-year-old friend who he had planned to fight in East Coventry, authorities announced.

The incident occurred at around 3:44 p.m. on Monday, April 1 at an abandoned railroad bridge spanning the Schuylkill River between Lower Pottsgrove and East Coventry.

The suspect, Raul Castro, and the victim agreed to walk across the bridge from Lower Pottsgrove, so that they could find an isolated place to fight, the Chester County District Attorney's Office said on Tuesday afternoon.

A third teen who witnessed the shooting said that the two others were friends, but were having a dispute, the nature of which is unclear.

Before any kind of fight could begin, however, Castro pulled out a handgun and fired it at the victim three times, hitting him twice, authorities said.

"Thirty years ago, this incident would have been fist fight and nothing else," DA Tom Hogan said.

Castro was arrested in Lower Pottsgrove shortly therafter, with blood stains on his clothing. The victim was found under the bridge, and he was flown to a nearby trauma center where he immediately underwent emergency surgery.

Castro is being charged as an adult, and was booked at Chester County Prison, Hogan said.

If you have any information on this case, contact Chester County Detective Kristin Lund at 610-344-6866.