Dakota Thornton: Pennsylvania Teen Charged With Killing Brother Over A Girl [Breaking]
Dakota Thornton, a 15-year-old Pennsylvania teen, allegedly shot his 18-year-old brother over an argument on Wednesday morning in their family apartment home in Williams Township. Apparently, the incident occurred after rivalry over a girl got way out of hand.
People reports that authorities responded to a call at the Dauphin County apartment off of the 100 block of Autumn Drive, and arrived just a little after 2 a.m. on Wednesday. A 911 caller revealed that Dakota shot his 18-year-old brother Dominick Thornton. When police arrived, they found the older brother dead from a single shotgun wound. Police found Dakota sitting inside an apartment next door when they arrived, and when he was asked to put his hands behind his back, he said, “I shot my brother.”
According to Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico, the brothers were fighting over the girl just before the shooting occurred.
“The brothers were having a dispute over a young lady. Both of them apparently were romantically interested in this young girl and that’s what lead ultimately to the killing.”
A neighbor, Nicole Davis, told FOX 43 she was genuinely surprised when she heard what happened. She said she knows the whole family and would have never thought Dakota was capable of such an act. She revealed Dakota was at her home a day before the shooting occurred, playing basketball with her son.
Dakota Thornton, 15, charged w homicide for killing older bro because he had crush on his gf police say. @abc27News pic.twitter.com/gLN390DxoE
— Dave Marcheskie (@DMarcheskie) March 30, 2016
“I know all of them I just wouldn’t imagine Dakota doing something like that.”
Another neighbor added, “It’s very shocking. I just saw Dominick outside yesterday. Just to know he’s dead now – I actually watched them carry him out in a body bag. It’s not usual around here at all.”
Since Dauphin County handles all homicides cases in its adult court, including those committed by juveniles, Dakota was booked as an adult and charged with first-degree murder and possession of a weapon. Marsico admitted that the case is quite unusual given the ages of the brothers.
“It’s certainly unusual to have a case where a brother shoots and kills his brother especially the ages of these individuals. This particular family you have one brother who is dead and the other who is facing a long time in prison for killing his older brother so, it’s a tragic event and one that was entirely preventable.”
While his mother was present, Dakota Thornton told police that he loaded a .410-gauge shotgun and then shot his brother two minutes later. Dominick Thornton was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy is scheduled to be performed this week.
This is breaking my heart more and more…? https://t.co/HSHrlLiCwb
— CaseyCantStandYou!! (@BeautifulReck13) March 31, 2016
So far, there isn’t much information about the girl that the brothers were interested in, but Dakota told officers that he “ultimately shot and killed his brother over the fact that he was romantically interested in the brother’s girlfriend.”
Both brothers attended school at the Williams Valley School District. The school district hasn’t commented on the incident. Dakota Thornton, who was taken into custody without incident, is expected to appear in court on April 6 for a preliminary hearing.
The story is still developing.
[Photo by the Dauphin County Sheriff’s Department]
