Crime
12-year-old shot and killed while filming music video in West Oak Lane home
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A tragic incident unfolded in Northwest Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon, May 11, when a 12-year-old boy was fatally shot while filming a music video, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.
Authorities responded around 12:30 p.m. to reports of a person with a gun in the 1500 block of East Pastorius Street.
Upon arrival, officers located a juvenile male inside a residence suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:51 p.m.
The victim, whose identity has not yet been publicly released, was reportedly filming a music video with two other juveniles—a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old—at the time of the shooting.
Investigators say it remains unclear which teen discharged the firearm or whether the shooting was accidental or intentional.
Authorities have confirmed that the music video being filmed at the time of the incident was captured on video and is considered a key piece of evidence in the investigation.
However, police say a search warrant is required before the footage can be officially reviewed.
“We are in possession of that video,” said Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace. “But we must follow proper legal procedures to access and review the content.”
In addition to the firearm used in the shooting, police recovered several other items from the scene, including a BB gun.
Investigators are working to determine how the live firearm came to be present in the home and whether it was legally owned or secured.
Family members who were inside the residence at the time of the incident are being interviewed by detectives.
Police emphasized that the investigation is active and ongoing.
Neighbors expressed deep shock and sorrow, particularly given the young age of the victim and the timing of the tragedy just before Mother’s Day.
“The videos today are just so violent,” said neighbor Deborah Hankins. “These kids—I don’t understand. I was raised to know you don’t play with guns.”
Authorities urge anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Philadelphia Police Department’s tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Tips can be submitted anonymously.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.