ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY - One day after a teenage boy is shot and killed Altoona; plenty of questions remain unanswered.
Police say it happened on the 100 block of East 3rd Avenue in Altoona.
We've confirmed that it was 16-year-old Jesse Mcelhinney who was shot and killed on Altoona's east side Wednesday afternoon.
Neighbors and friends of the family say another teenager and Mcelhinney were playing with a gun, when it went off, and shot Mcelhinney in the head.
Police have not confirmed anything at this time, however we have confirmed some of the facts and details with the family.
WTAJ News talked with Jesse Mcelhinney's older brother.
He says they're leaning on family and friends for support and they're upset about things being talked about on social media sites. Kenneth Mcelhinney admitted that the gun came from the alleged shooter's family. He then walked us through the harrowing events Wednesday
afternoon. He says it started when he went with Jesse to get something from the dollar store. When they came back, Jesse and the alleged shooter went upstairs.
"My buddy went upstairs, and that's whenever we heard the shot, and he came running downstairs and he told us he was so sorry..."
Kenneth Mcelhinney says he grabbed alleged shooter and threw him down because he was threatening to kill himself. He says their friend brought a gun over, and it went off while they were playing with it. Jesse was shot in the head.
"I did walk upstairs, after it all happened, it was a very disturbing site, it's going to take multiple years to get out of my head, it's just terrible. "
Mcelhinney says he, Jesse, and the alleged shooter were best friends.
"It was to the point where Jesse wouldn't call me for advice, he would call him."
The other boy even was going to move in with the Mcelhinney's once he turned 18. Kenneth Mcelhinney says he talked to him Wednesday night at the police station, everyone was in tears.
"He's feeling regret, he wants to kill himself, but he's not going to. We're not going to let him, he's part of the family."
"Is there any reason to believe that this gentleman would want to hurt Jesse?"
"No, there's no reason. No reason whatsoever."
"No doubt in your mind?"
"No doubt in my mind whatsoever..."
Now Mcelhinney wants others to learn from Jesse's case.
"I absolutely want it to be a lesson, lock your guns up please. Because things like this will happen, whether you're 18, whether you're 20 or 30... Accidents happen..."
Mcelhinney's last words to his baby brother were an apology after a fight. We asked what he would say if he could speak to him now.
"I'd just tell him I love him, I miss him, and I'm sorry for always fighting with him... Just that he's a great kid, he was a great kid."
Kenneth Mcelhinney says both his parents died about a decade ago. He'll now live with his grandparents, without his brother. The family has made arrangements for Jesse's viewing and funeral. We have them posted below:
Funeral arrangements
Viewing
Pleasant Valley Assembly of God - 3-7 pm on Saturday
Funeral
7 pm
Bellwood Funeral Home - 7 pm on Saturday
