Boy, 12, shot by boy, 13, cops say

A feud between young boys in Taunton that may have begun on social media erupted into gunfire yesterday, leaving one with a bullet lodged in his ribs, police said.

“As I understand it, it may be a form of bullying that had taken place, maybe via Facebook, but these young men came to his house to confront him,” Taunton police Lt. Paul Roderick said, referring to the suspect. “They engaged in an argument in the backyard, at which time he went into the house, obtained the weapon, and as the argument ensued, he fired one shot.”

Cops were called to a report of gunshots on Highstone Street about 12:13 p.m., police said. The first officer on the scene found a 12-year-old boy with a wound to his arm and torso caused by a .22-caliber rifle round, police said.

Cops said they found the shooter — a 13-year-old boy — nearby.

“The suspect is alleged to have felt threatened, returned to his home, unlocked a gun safe, went back to a wooded area where the victim was located and shot him,” police said in a statement.

The victim was struck by a bullet that entered his left arm on the outside of his elbow and exited on the inside of his elbow. The bullet continued on into his lower rib cage where it lodged, police said.

The boy was taken by ambulance to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment of a non-lifethreatening injury.

The alleged shooter was found behind his home and taken to the Taunton Police Department, where he was booked. He is expected to face charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a loaded firearm without a license and discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, police said.