Boy, 13, Shot

A 13-year-old Willow Springs boy has recovered completely from a gunshot wound despite receiving no medical attention. On the morning of May 16, a female student reported to School Resource Officer Glen Moore that her brother had been shot at home by his mother’s boyfriend. The girl provided officers with photos of the gunshot wound, according to the probable cause statement filed by Officer Kyle Parrish.

The 13-year-old male victim confirmed Harry Shaffer, 53, of Willow Springs, shot him in the leg with a .22 caliber handgun. The incident occurred at a residence on Grand Ave. “in March or April, 2022” as the child was exiting his bedroom. In a follow-up interview, Officer Parrish said the victim could not be more specific about the date. The exact date of the child’s injury remains unclear. 

Police reports from the WSPD recorded that Officer Parrish and Officer Jim Hedlesten responded to Grand Avenue on April 16 for a report of shots fired and screaming. 

“I did knock on that door, but no one answered,” Officer Parrish said in an interview, but did not confirm the two incidents were related.  

According to the probable cause statement, the boy’s mother, identified as Amanda Fine, “was aware someone had shot [her son],” while she was not at home. Fine told police she did not force her child to seek medical attention, “and the wound was simply bandaged.”

In an interview on May 19, Officer Parrish confirmed the boy had recovered completely, and that the gunshot left a scar consistent with an injury from a .22 caliber bullet. 

Shaffer, a convicted felon, told police he heard a person enter the residence and approach. When he saw the person’s leg, he fired the gun. The victim’s mother told police that, on the day in question, Shaffer and her son were both aware the other was in the residence. 

Shaffer did not seek medical attention for the child’s gunshot wound “because he didn’t need it,” says the probable cause statement. 

As a felon, Shaffer faces one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. He also faces first degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action, and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. Shaffer pled not guilty on May 18 and remains in Howell County Jail on a bond of $50,000. 

Police have submitted criminal charges against the mother, Amanda Fine, but as of press time, the prosecuting attorney’s office had not filed formal charges. 

The victim was placed with another family member under the direction of the Division of Family Services.