New details emerge in Luzerne County shooting

BERWICK, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — New details are emerging Tuesday in the shooting death of a Luzerne County teenager over the weekend.

17-year-old Hunter Sipple was shot at a Nanticoke home Sunday afternoon. He died a short time later at a hospital.

An autopsy was conducted Tuesday and the Luzerne County coroner tells 28/22 News the investigation is ongoing into the cause and manner of death.

The deadly shooting took place inside a home on Minden Court in Nanticoke just before 4:00 p.m. Sunday.

According to court documents, police say the 18-year-old Michael Crawn Jr., who allegedly fired the fatal shot was outside the home holding 17-year-old Hunter Sipple in his arms. Sipple had a gunshot wound to the chest.

Court papers state Crawn initially told police officers that he and Sipple were wrestling in the living room, they fell into a wooden cabinet, and the gun, a semi-automatic pistol, fell to the floor and went off.

Later in the same interview, according to the court documents, Crawn said he was fooling around with the gun and it discharged. Sipple was hit in the chest he later died at the hospital.

“Our condolences to the family first and foremost. The loss of such a young life is devastating and our hearts go out to the family,” said Wendy Kupsky the Superintendent at Berwick Area School District.

Sipple was a junior at Berwick Area High School.

Kupsky, says grief counselors are available for any student or staff who is struggling to deal with the tragedy.

“Even if a student doesn’t know them. The reality of life and death changes things significantly, add Kupsky.”

At this point, both the police and coroner’s investigations are ongoing.

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