Officials investigate shooting death of 14-year-old Mineral City boy
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Jan. 5, 2022) – Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s officials say they believe a 14-year-old boy was playing with a handgun when he fatally shot himself in the head at his Mineral City home Wednesday night.
Authorities did not immediately provide his name. However, the Tusky Valley School District on Facebook is mourning the loss of middle school 8th grader Brayden Wrana.
Detective Lt. Adam Fisher says the boy’s 11-year-old sister called 911 around 8:15 p.m. to report the accident at the Tabor Ridge Road Northeast home. He says the investigation continues.
“Some interviews were not able to be completed last night simply due to the grieving process of the parents,” Fisher said.
No adults were home at the time of the shooting. Fisher says the boy’s guardians were visiting other family members involved in a crash earlier in the day. He says the gun used in the shooting was a .22-caliber revolver.
“Everything is pointing that the gun was kept in the home, and it was retrieved from an area within that home,” Fisher said. “So, nothing suspicious about that, as of yet.”
The school district describes Wrana as kind-hearted, an avid baseball player, and a friend to all who the entire Tusky Valley family will miss.