ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY - Blair County investigators met Friday morning to determine whether to charge a teenage boy with the shooting death of 16-year-old Jesse Mcelhinney.
The Blair County District Attorney's Office met on Friday but did not come to a decision on whether to charge the alleged shooter. They say they still need to conduct more interviews and investigate the matter further, and don't think they'll come to a decision until after the new year.
We spoke to Mcelhinney's older brother, who says a friend came over to their house on 3rd Avenue in Altoona. While showing Jesse a gun upstairs it went off. Jesse Mcelhinney was shot in the head and killed. Kenneth Mcelhinney, Jesse's older brother says they don't want the alleged shooter charged, because he's like family.
"He was literally like a brother to us, he was supposed to be moving in with us once he turned 18. [Be]cause his home life isn't the greatest. We were all brothers, he went to church with us every single Wednesday, every single Tuesday, every single Sunday. He played in the worship band with me.... He's a great kid."
Mcelhinney's viewing is scheduled for Saturday afternoon from 3-7 pm at Pleasant Valley Assembly of God in Altoona. The funeral service will immediately follow.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.