Arrest in shooting of 8-year-old in North Coventry Township

NORTH COVENTRY TWP., Pa. -- Authorities have announced an arrest in the shooting of an 8-year-old boy who was riding his bike in North Coventry Township, Chester County.

The shooting happened around 5:00 p.m. Friday in the unit block of West Main Street.

Police say 55-year-old Wayne Snowden fired a random shot that struck 8-year-old A.J. Hagner.

Drunk and erratic is how North Coventry Township Police described Snowden, the man Action News interviewed a few hours after investigators say he fired the shot.

Chester County investigators say Snowden walked out onto his porch and randomly shot his gun toward West Main Street.

A.J., who was riding his bike with a friend, was hit in the thigh barely missing a major artery.

"When you pick up a gun, it's not just stupid if you're going to do something like that, it's reckless, it's a great indifference to human life," said Tom Hogan, Chester County District Attorney.

A.J. was rushed to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in stable condition. He was released Saturday.

The investigation lead to Snowden and his home where officers say they found a .9mm glock with a spent shell casing jammed inside.

However it appears Snowden's words to Action News may be the biggest piece of evidence against him.

"I thought it was astonishing. A lot of the things he said to the media last night were very incriminating as far as I'm concerned," said Chief Robert Schurr, North Coventry Township Police.

"We didn't actually know it was him until they brought him out of the house today and we were shocked," said Christine Fry, neighbor.

After the arrest, investigators took pictures and gathered more evidence at Snowden's home.

However down the street, it was a happy homecoming for A.J. His family didn't want to speak on camera but neighbors shared a photograph of the second grader, who was bandaged up, surrounded by his friends.

"He just looks tired but his mom says he wants to go to school on Monday - brave kid," said Fry.

Snowden, who remains in custody, faces Aggravated Assault and related charges.