Carrie Petersen Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Sunday, July 2, 2006 10:00 pm
Albany police are asking for information to help piece together the events leading up to the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy who was believed to have been breaking into a house early Saturday morning.
According to police, Bruce Gosnell Jr., 32, fired a single shot from a semiautomatic 9mm pistol at a person who was standing next to an open window outside his residence in the 2400 block of 22nd Avenue S.E. Gosnell told police the person, who was in his fenced backyard, appeared to be moving toward the window.
Gosnell's wife and two daughters, 8 and 10, were also home at the time. One of the daughters was sleeping on the couch, according to police.
Jeremiah Daniel O'Sullivan was found in a neighboring yard and taken to the Albany hospital, where he died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
The shooting was related to an earlier burglary at a residence in the 2700 block of 27th Avenue S.E. Police were notified of the burglary in which a car was stolen at about 2:30 a.m. About a half hour later, a sergeant spotted the car near the Gosnells' residence.
A male was standing next to the car and then ran into the Gosnells' backyard. Police Capt. Eric Carter said investigators don't know for certain who the male was, but they think it was O'Sullivan.
Police believe another person was already at the back of the house when the male next to the car ran into the backyard, Carter said.
Gosnell had heard noise in his backyard and saw the person, which is when he fired his gun, according to police. No charges have been filed against Gosnell.
As of this morning, no one else had been identified in connection with the events, but police believe at least one other person besides O'Sullivan was involved. The investigation continues.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Albany Police Department at 917-7680.
Once the police department has completed its investigation, the case will be reviewed by the Linn County District Attorney's Office to determine if any charges will be filed.
During the day Saturday, a car kept traveling past the Gosnell's residence and at about 8:40 p.m., Gosnell was threatened by three teens who knew O'Sullivan, Carter said. A fourth person remained in the car.
The teens were "agitated," Carter said, and asked if Gosnell was the person who shot O'Sullivan. They gave Gosnell a picture of O'Sullivan. The teens left only after Gosnell said he was going to call the police.
As the teens were leaving, someone made a statement about Gosnell dying, Carter said.
Officers are providing extra patrols near the Gosnells' house and are following up on the threat.