The 9mm black Astra pistol (pictured above) used by Bronx youth Shaaliver Douse (pictured below) was initially purchased at a Kentucky sporting goods store in 1999, according to police sources.
Douse was reportedly chasing and shooting at another teen with the weapon in Melrose around 3 a.m. Sunday, when patrol officers demanded he stop and freeze. One of the officers shot Douse in his lower jaw when he fired a fourth round at his target. Douse would later die from his wound.
The weapon was later recovered at the scene. Records have revealed that an unidentified 35-year-old Louisville man bought the gun in a Crestwood, Ky., store.
It wasn’t reported stolen, and officials are still unsure how Douse got his hands on it.
The 14-year-old has been linked to two other guns. One of them he reportedly used to shoot a 15-year-old in his shoulder in May. He was charged with attempted murder for the shooting; however, the charge was dropped when the gun was never found and the victim and a witness refused to testify, fearing being labeled “snitches.”
Douse was also caught with a loaded handgun back in October. The court date for that case was later this month. The weapon — a Harrington & Richardson .32 caliber revolver — was traced back to Ohio.
Douse reportedly was a member of the 9 Crew gang. According to sources who spoke with the Daily News,[2] the 9 Crew gang and rival gang Lyman Place Bosses have been warring over territory.
The rivalry escalated after 9 Crew member Jose “Spilz” Webster was fatally shot while escorting his girlfriend home in September 2011.
Police are trying to determine if the May shooting was related to Sunday’s incident.