The teen went to bed without seeking treatment; his 20-year-old adult friend was in possession of the stolen firearm when the incident happened
Digital Assignment Editor
A 17-year-old male shot himself in the leg with a stolen firearm overnight Friday, Santa Fe police said.
The teen went to bed with the injury, which was discovered by his guardian in the morning.
Santa Fe police were dispatched to the hospital where the teen was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The teen told police he’d been with his adult friend of Santa Fe, 20-year-old Juan Carlos Ramirez Olvera, the night before.
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Detectives contacted Ramirez Olvera.
They located the firearm while processing Ramirez Olvera for evidence, and discovered it had been reported stolen. Ramirez Olvera said he’d purchased it recently from an acquaintance.
Detectives learned that Ramirez Olvera and the teen were in a car at Las Acequias Park on Friday night. Ramirez Olvera told the teen he had a gun in the backseat.
The teen jumped into the backseat to look at the firearm when he accidentally put his finger on the trigger and caused a negligent discharge, police said.
Afterward, Ramirez Olvera took the juvenile home. He said he encouraged him to go to the hospital for treatment, but the teen refused.
Police booked Ramirez Olvera for receiving stolen property, and the case remains under investigation.
