A Saskatoon teenager has been sentenced to 18 months in supervised custody for the fatal shooting of his 12-year-old friend.
In her Oct. 1 decision, Judge Lisa Watson ruled that the youth, who was 13 at the time, accidentally shot his friend while posing with a sawed-off rifle and pretending to be a gangster, mistakenly believing the gun’s safety was on.
Watson sentenced the teenager, now 15, to one year in open custody in a supervised residence, six months under community supervision, and 18 months of probation.
“I do wish you the best. I know this is a difficult day for you and your family, difficult for [the victim’s] family and loved ones,” Watson said during the Oct. 1 sentencing. “I expect you to do something with your life. I expect you to move forward in a positive way and I very much hope not to ever see you back in this court building.”
Video Shows Shooting
The court heard that in February of last year, three boys, including the would-be-shooter, had been drinking vodka and were passing around a sawed-off rifle in one of their residences. An agreed statement of facts says that the teens were taking photos and videos while posing with the rifle and pretending to be gangsters.
One video shows the shooter pointing the rifle at the victim, who was recording. The weapon discharged, shooting the victim in the head. The shooter who fired it believed the rifle was in safe mode.
The third individual, also 12 at the time, pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death last year and was sentenced to two years in the case—16 months in a secure facility and eight months under community supervision—and 12 months of probation.
The rifle was obtained by the shooter’s sister, but the court did not disclose the ownership details.
According to a previous court statement from one of the victim’s sisters, “they were provided a gun by an 18-year-old,” who added that “gun violence is happening, and it’s happening to children with no responsibility to [on the part of] adults.”
For her part, Watson said that the shooter should have known his behaviour was risky and could lead to considerable harm.
“While I accept that [the shooter] did not intend to shoot his friend, playing and posing with a firearm under the influence of alcohol was clearly risky behaviour,” Watson said, noting that “harm was reasonably perceivable” in the teen’s actions.
The victim, described as funny, charming, and playful, was the youngest in his family. The court heard that his death has deeply affected his family, with some turning to substances and others caught up in the justice system. His older brother died in an accidental drowning in December 2024.
“There is a profound sense of loss and anger at the fact [the victim] was denied a future,” Watson said. “He will not have the chance to finish school, play sports, find a partner or live the life that he should.”
The Crown sought the maximum youth sentence of three years’ custody plus a supervision order, while the defence recommended 18 months in open custody with supervision, followed by 12 months’ probation. Watson ruled that the maximum sentence wasn’t necessary nor appropriate, noting that a three-year term would be disproportionate given mitigating factors.
Aggravating factors included the impact on the victim’s family and the shooter’s plan to falsely blame another uninvolved child. Watson said mitigating factors included the teen’s guilty plea, apology, and efforts toward rehabilitation. The court heard he has abstained from alcohol and drugs, engaged in positive activities like sports and cultural programs, followed a strict curfew, and benefited from family and First Nation support.
“[The shooter] has made considerable progress. He is prosocial, is supported by his family and First Nation and has insight into his behaviour,” Watson said. “He is still quite young and all signs indicate he is both capable of and committed to positive change.”
As part of his probation, the boy must report to a youth worker, adhere to a curfew, avoid any contact with the victim’s family and the other involved boy, refrain from alcohol and drugs, follow a counseling program, and is prohibited from possessing any firearm or weapon for 10 years.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
