Family says Cumberland boy’s shooting death was accident; police disagree
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Questions surround the death of a Cumberland boy shot and killed a week ago. Police are investigating the case as a homicide, but the boy’s family says investigators have it all wrong.
Ten-year old Anthony Harmon Jr’s family says they don’t believe his death was a homicide. They believe it was instead a tragic accident, and they’re not satisfied with the investigation.
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“I passed out. I couldn’t believe it. I wanted to go to sleep and wake up and hope it was a dream,” Anthony Harmon Sr said.
Harmon Sr. went into shock when he heard his 10 year old son, who goes by AJ, had been shot and killed. “He was very intelligent. He wanted to grow up and become a doctor. He would have achieved his dream, but his life ended. (It) got cut short,” Harmon Sr. said.
AJ lived with one of his sisters in McCordsville. His father says he wanted his son to have a better life, and didn’t want him in the IPS school district.
According to Harmon Sr., AJ was an honor student at Grassy Creek Elementary and was a computer “whiz.” At the time of the shooting, family members say AJ was home with other kids and a 16-year old babysitter. The case is being reviewed by the juvenile division of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. Police believe somebody intentionally shot AJ, but family members don’t agree.
“It was an accident. It was not intentional,” Harmon Sr. said.
“I believe that somebody was playing with a gun that they didn’t have no business playing with it and it accidentally went off and he shot…he got shot,” said Lakesha Hamilton, AJ’s oldest sister.
Hamilton is concerned that one of the juveniles will be charged in her brother’s death, “Very concerned. But, like I said, we’re going to get to the bottom of it. Deep down inside of my heart, I know that this was an accident,” she said.
“I just don’t want it to seem like he was a bad person,” she added. “Because, he was a wonderful person. He was in church. He was involved. He loved God.”
That faith is what gives the family peace and allows them to move forward.
“We just taking it one day at a time and keeping God in our hearts. We know he’s up in heaven with the rest of our family that’s gone,” Harmon said.
The viewing for AJ Harmon will be on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon at New Direction Church on E 38th Street. The burial will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery on 38th Street.
