BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Bloomington Police arrested a 16-year-old boy Monday on several charges, including attempted murder, after police say an argument over Snapchat ended with a 14 year old being shot early Friday morning.
Nikolas Bridgewater is charged in adult court with attempted murder, a level 1 felony; aggravated battery, a level 3 felony; battery with a deadly weapon, and criminal recklessness, both level 5 felonies.
Bridgewater had an initial hearing in court on Wednesday, where he pleaded not guilty. He remains in jail without bail until a bail review hearing next Thursday.
If convicted, he could face between 20 to 50 years for the attempted murder charge, 6 to 20 years for the aggravated battery charge, and between 2 to 8 years for each of the two level 5 felonies, according to Indiana Sentencing Guidelines.
SHOOTING DETAILS
According to court documents, police responded to reports of shots fired just before 6 a.m on March 15 and found a 14-year-old with two gun shot wounds near the area of the shooting. Officers reportedly recovered five shell casings at the scene.
Police were able to track down two other juvenile victims, who told police that there was an argument over Snapchat, and that the three juveniles went to meet with Bridgewater, believing that it would lead to a fist fight. The victims told investigators that when the three arrived to the area, they noticed Bridgewater and another person walking towards them.
According to court documents, yelling ensued, and the victims reported that Bridgewater pulled a gun and fired several times, hitting one the 14 year old twice as the victims ran from the area.
At the hospital, the teen identified Bridgewater as the suspect and said that the two had known each other for about a year. The 14 year old confirmed the two were arguing on Snapchat that morning and agreed to meet in person to fight. When the 14 year old and two other victims arrived, Bridgewater was reportedly walking with another person and allegedly said something like,”Would I be wrong if I started shooting y’all right now?” before pulling out a gun and firing at the three while they ran away.
ARREST MADE
On Monday, police contacted Bridgewater’s mom, who said she had not seen her son since Thursday morning, but that she would bring him to the Bloomington Police Department for questioning. Police say Bridgewater and his mom arrived at the station a short time later.
Detectives read Bridgewater his rights before questioning and let him discuss his options with his mother in private for five minutes. When detectives came back to the interview room, Bridgewater declined to answer any questions.
He was arrested and booked into the Monroe County Jail, where he is being held without bail.
