Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Boy 'shoots and kills grandmother because he didn't want to go to school'

Hunter Riley Reeser admitted shooting Sandra Orton in the head, police say

Caroline Mortimer
Thursday 25 August 2016 12:01 BST
Comments
Hunter Riley Reeser has been charged with murder following his grandmother's death
Hunter Riley Reeser has been charged with murder following his grandmother's death (Erie County Police Department)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A US teenager has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting his grandmother because he did not want to go to school.

Hunter Riley Reeser from Harborcreek Township, Pennsylvania, allegedly shot 60-year-old Sandra Orton in the head and then called her husband claiming he had found her wounded.

The 14-year-old then called 911 and admitted shooting her, state police said.

Mrs Orton was found dead in a car by police.

Officers said Reeser told them he shot her because he did not want to go to a meeting at his school.

In Pennsylvania, children must be charged as adults in murder or homicide cases, though their defence teams can later appeal and seek to have the case heard in a juvenile court.

Erie County prosecutors said they plan to oppose any move to do so. He will appear before the court for a preliminary hearing on 2 September, Yourerie.com reported.

Reeser does not yet have an attorney to comment on the charges.

He is currently being held in custody and no bail has been set.

The incident comes just months after a 16-year-old boy in Tennessee allegedly shot his family and grandmother after they told him to get out of bed and go to school.

Additional reporting by AP

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in