Both teens had been drinking, police said.
Newton Police NEWTON -- Two teens were arrested early Saturday morning when officers responded to a fight in the parking lot of the Merriam Gateway Apartments between a 19-year-old and a 16-year-old who had been drinking together, police said.
Officers discovered when they arrived that the 16-year-old boy had a .357 magnum revolver tucked into his waisband, Newton police Lt. Robert Osborn said in a news release.
The investigation and witness interviews revealed that Brandon Weller, 19, of Newton, and the juvenile had a physical altercation at about 1:50 a.m., Osborn said.
Both Weller and the juvenile were present at the scene, lying in the parking lot and complaining of pain after the fight, he said. It was at this time that officers saw the gun in the 16-year-old's waistband, which was immediately seized and secured by police.
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Officers later confirmed the firearm was legally owned by the juvenile's father and had been taken from a locked vault by the youth without his father's knowledge or consent, Osborn said. The weapon was not displayed or used in the fight, he said.
Witness told police both Weller and the juvenile were fighting with each other before patrols arrived on scene, and they also appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
Weller was charged with simple assault and released, Osborn said. The juvenile was treated and released at Newton Medical Center before he was arrested.
The juvenile was charged with third-degree theft of a firearm, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of hollow-point bullets and simple assault. He was later released to the custody of a parent.
Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
