Young Shooter Sent To Boys Town

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Twelve-year-old admitted to manslaughter in friend's death
Posted: 5:31 PM Jan 13, 2009
Last Updated: 8:22 PM Jan 13, 2009
Reporter: Jaime McCutcheon
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

8 comments

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The 12-year-old Omaha boy who admitted to manslaughter in the accidental shooting death of his 15-year-old friend in November learned Tuesday he'll be sent to Boys Town.

Kameron Jones, described as a problem child by the courts, is headed to Boys Town where it's hoped he will get the attention he needs. It's what his attorney has been pushing for from the start.

Kameron's mother was overjoyed that her son gets the chance to change his life. "All I can say is it's great, it's great, it's great,” said Samona Jones.

Kameron shot and killed Anthony Ray in the home of Kameron's aunt and Ray's foster mother at 37th and Bedford on November 8th. Kameron thought the gun wasn't loaded.

Samona was all smiles after the hearing, just as her young son was in court when he learned he was going to Boys Town. "He told the judge thank you for the opportunity to go to Boys Town and he would not disappoint him."

Inside the juvenile courtroom, Judge Douglas Johnson had some words for Kameron as well, telling him when it comes to Boys Town, he couldn't emphasize how important it was for Kameron to take this opportunity and succeed in it.

Judge Johnson then helped Kameron in another area he was lacking. "He gave him a book bag to take his clothes in when he leaves," said Samona.

Also in court was Ray's foster mother/Kameron's aunt. Samona spoke to her after the hearing. “All I can ask is for forgiveness and I just kept telling her I'm sorry, I'm sorry this happened, I'm so sorry, which is really true."

"I know from talking to Kameron that he's very troubled by what happened, that would trouble any grown adult,” said his attorney James Martin Davis. “He feels very, very guilty."

Boys Town will now try and help Kameron turn from a troubled child into a productive adult. "They're going to provide him with a lot of things that I'm not able to, so it's a great thing all the way around,” said Samona. Kameron's a great kid and I know that he's going to take full advantage of this opportunity."

Kameron should move to Boys Town sometime this week or next week. He will be placed in intensive treatment at first. He'll stay at Boys Town and remain under the court's supervision until the judge believes he's ready to move on.

Kameron's progress will be reviewed in court from time to time. The first review happens in six months.

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Posted by: Too peachy! on Jan 14, 2009 at 09:04 PM
Hey!, Comment Poster. Didn't like my comment, huh? Did you delete it from the submittals? Perhaps you would have just wanted me to say- Good Luck!, Father Flanagan. Sorry, I thought the young boy/man's fate & everyone else in Life deserved better. I've been known to be wrong. Still, it seems you just don't have a good heart or a very good one at times. That's not unlike me and/or mine, I'm willing to admit. My comments of course, in my dear opinion, seem to be heavily fraught with good advice & wisdom. Not necessarily love, which I know is really one ingredient that's necessary to change anyone's life for the better. I went to Boys Town. So, I feel like I really have a feel for the place & who should be placed there. It's a place for runts alright, but I still stand firm- that boy seemed to be one in need of more than just BOYS Town. We will see. Good luck on not getting eye-strain, fatigue, brain-farts & writer's cramp. :-)

Posted by: To B on Jan 14, 2009 at 04:02 AM
You are 100% correct. It is a shame, time and time again kids are arrested for shooting at something or someone. They get caught and nothing. Slap on the wrist at most. Remember Jordan Goodwin, he was arrested in the early months of 2007 for threating to shoot someone then fired at the house. Later that year he killed a 7 year old CHILD. If Goodwin was locked up for that first felony he would not have had a chance to kill that little girl. The scary thing is if he did kill her he would have killed someone else. It sad, I invite anyone to go down to the court house during court hours and sit in COURT ROOM #25 and see how the courts deals with them. It is open to the public.

Posted by: John on Jan 13, 2009 at 09:19 PM
Remember his name. I am afraid we will be seeing it again. I hate to say it but I don't think extreme punishment is appropriate due to his young age. However, the "parent" of that house should have done some jail time.

Posted by: hmm on Jan 13, 2009 at 07:44 PM
He's young enough that he can still be rehabilitated by going to Boys Town. But that's not enough. I think he should be required to give speeches on gun dangers, and be prohibited from ever legally owning a firearm for the rest of his life. I truly hope he takes this opportunity to take this tragedy and turn it into a success story.

Posted by: B on Jan 13, 2009 at 07:30 PM
What a shame. The message this is going to send to future young killers like him is that it's ok to kill, you won't face jail time.

Posted by: It's the same on Jan 13, 2009 at 06:36 PM
It's the same as that one weapon, you know a vechile, that one young lady who was drinking and driving and killed someone got little or no time and violated again. Humm did she kill someone, He's 12 and yes and adult should have been around, and a gun should have not been in their sight at all, dut David judge not (your not GOD)

Posted by: Rick on Jan 13, 2009 at 06:21 PM
I saw it on the TV newscast...Momma's all happy...one less mouth to feed? She was giddy...unbelieveable...

Posted by: David on Jan 13, 2009 at 06:06 PM
Yay!!!! You really can kill someone and then totally not suffer any penalty whatsoever. But then again, I guess it's okay. You see, he thought the gun was unloaded. Therefore it's okay that HE WAS POINTING A REAL GUN AT SOMEONE. He probably saw somewhere that guns are real cool (I can't imagine where) and figured, "Hey, I can play with these, and someday I'll be using one for real." Now, here we are; his friend is in the dirt and he's going to Boy's Town. You know, that place where you can play football and stuff.