12 year old hired gun arrested after shooting wrong target

Swedish police arrested a 12 year old boy after a fatal shooting in Malmö, Sweden. Investigators say the child was hired to kill a specific person but shot the wrong man. The shooting happened on December 16, when a 21 year old was killed while sitting in a car with friends. Police believe the intended target was another passenger in the same vehicle. Swedish media reported the boy was promised 250,000 Swedish crowns, about $27,000, for the job. Authorities say he had traveled from another city after running away from his grandmother’s home. All passengers in the car had criminal records, including the victim. He had served just over two years in prison for robbery, threats against an official, and other charges. Police say this is the first time in Sweden that someone so young is suspected in a deadly shooting. Rasem Chebil of Malmö Police said, “We see that it is creeping down in age, and we must stop this development.” Chebil said gangs often recruit minors through social media because children under 15 cannot be jailed. Due to the severity of the crime, prosecutors still chose to open criminal proceedings.