Man who shot teenager released with no charges

[kpominville]

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/21689178/detail.html

Teen Shot While Playing Prank
Police: Teens Were Ringing Neighbors' Doorbells

POSTED: Saturday, November 21, 2009
UPDATED: 7:25 pm EST November 22, 2009
Green Oak Township
GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- The man accused of shooting a 15-year-old boy with a pellet gun after he ran his doorbell as a prank in Livingston County Friday has been released from custody.

One of the teen's friends told Local 4 they were ringing doorbells on Sumac Lane as a prank when the 69-year-old Robert Lupo confronted the teen and shot him in the lower back.

"We were running away and the guy was outside and he yelled at us," the teen's friend said. "While we were running, he got shot, my friend, it hit him in the back, like inches away from his spine. Then we had to pick him up and carried him to my house."

The teen was taken to University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, but is now recovering at home.

Lupe was arrested and taken to the Livingston County Jail. He was later released without the filing of charges.

Matt Merl is the father of one of the teens who was part of the group who pulled the prank.

"I'm still in shock, actually," he said. "I can't believe out here, in the middle of nowhere, someone would do that to a kid."

Merl said he doesn’t understand why Lupo was released.

“I thought it was attempted murder,” he said.

The Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office was unavailable for comment and a knock on Lupo’s door went unanswered.

Neighbors in the area said the man is particular about his yard and lawn and not friendly to anyone who goes near it.

Green Oak Township is about 35 miles northwest of Detroit.

[SteveM]

1. This "shooting" should have been pursued by the prosecutor...

While the weapon may not have been normally lethal (spinal location not withstanding), the action of the "shooter" is out of proportion to the "crime" (if any) committed. Perhaps there is a peculiarity in how Michigan law treats pellet guns (as opposed to firearms), but the action is still out of whack.