Schoolboy held on weapons charges

BREMERTON, Wash. — A nineyear-old boy accused of bringing a handgun to class, where it went off in his backpack and critically wounded a classmate, was charged Thursday with assault and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Meanwhile the victim, Amina Kocer-bowman, 8, was listed in critical condition in hospital in Seattle, one day after suffering gun-shot wounds to her abdomen.

The boy, a third-grade student at Armin Jahr Elementary School in Bremerton, was charged with one counteach of third-degree assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm on school grounds.

During a brief hearing in Kitsap County Superior Court, a judge ordered him held on $50,000 bail until a March 7 hearing to decide if he has the capacity to determine right from wrong.

The boy faces up to 30 days detention, a year of probation and 150 hours of community service for each count if convicted.

Two students told investigators that the boy had told them that he planned to bring his dad’s gun to school and run away.