Two 19-year-old Salem brothers have been charged in Marion County Court in connection with the disappearance of a gun from what is believed to be an accidental shooting of a 17-year-old Salem juvenile boy in the face at his home on December 14th.
19-year-old Tyree Wilborn of Charleston Road has been charged with unlawful delivery of a firearm to a juvenile, as well as unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon. His twin brother, 19-year-old Anthony Wilborn, of the same address, has been charged with obstructing justice. He is accused of furnishing the sheriff’s department with false information about the location of the gun. Both were given notices to appear in court on the new charges on January 23rd.
The juvenile boy was transported to a St. Louis Hospital for treatment of the gunshot injury.
While the shooting is believed to be accidental when the juvenile was handling the handgun, Marion County Sheriff Kevin Cripps says the gun was gone when deputies arrived to investigate the shooting. The weapon has still not been located. Cripps says after Anthony Wilborn told deputies the gun was in the mailbox, where it wasn’t found, he went on social media to say he had lied to the police about the gun’s location.
Tyree Wilborn faces a two-to-ten-year prison term if found guilty of being a felon in possession of a gun and extended terms on the other two weapons charges.
A petition to revoke Tyree Wilborn’s probation has also been filed as a result of the new charges. He was on four years’ probation for aggravated battery to a police officer and obstructing justice in connection with an April incident where he allegedly kicked a correctional officer at the Marion County Jail while being booked on weapons and resisting arrest charges. The correctional officer had to seek hospital treatment. He received 30 months’ probation for mob action after attacking the occupants of a car driving through Bryan Memorial Park on May 19th. Tyree Wilborn also received 30 months’ probation for aggravated battery for attacking a juvenile who was walking on Roddy Road last May.
