New Hope teen charged after shooting friend with ghost gun

In a tragic incident on September 18, a teenager from New Hope, Minnesota, shot his friend with a ghost gun, an untraceable firearm. The shooting occurred while the two were playing with the weapon at the 17-year-old's home. The victim, 16-year-old Keair Reed, was struck in the eye and subsequently hospitalized. Despite efforts to save him, he was placed on life support and later died, prompting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The 17-year-old initially claimed that Reed had shot himself, but witnesses reported seeing the two boys interacting just before the gun discharged. Investigators found the modified firearm on the ground, which had a binary trigger allowing it to fire multiple rounds with a single pull. This modification raises serious concerns about the accessibility and safety of such weapons among minors. The case has drawn attention to the issue of gun safety, particularly regarding the use of ghost guns by teenagers. The charged teen is facing serious legal repercussions, including first-degree assault and possession of a machine gun, highlighting the potential consequences of reckless behavior involving firearms. As the community grapples with this tragedy, the upcoming court appearance on October 3 will be closely watched, as it may set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future.