The 16-year-old boy who was shot by his friend as they allegedly played around with a “ghost gun” in New Hope has died from his injuries.
Keair Reed, 16, of Chaska, was allegesly shot by his friend, Anthony Wirtjes, 17, in Wirtjes’ home at the 6000 block of North Quebec Avenue. Reed was shot in the eye, and in the initial petition filed against Wirtjes’, it said Reed had “no brain activity” and was being kept alive in the hospital with life support.
While Wirtjes was initially charged with 1st-degree assault and illegal possession of a machine gun last week when the juvenile petition was first filed, he is now facing an additional count of second-degree manslaughter after Reed died on Sept. 24.
Reed’s father, Cary Reed, organized a GoFundMe for his son’s burial and is asking the community for help with funeral expenses. His GoFundMe states he leaves behind four brothers and a 15-year-old sister.
“Our family is devastated and lost for words. He did not deserve to have his life taken at such a young age,” Cary wrote. “He had goals and dreams to become an architect and was fun-loving, protective, and a very respectful child.”