Man Who Lost Son in Fire Accused of Shooting 17-Year-Old Son of Man He Believes Set the Blaze

Man Who Lost Son in Fire Accused of Shooting 17-Year-Old Son of Man He Believes Set the Blaze https://ift.tt/Xb4lYhT

Gyaw Way's son died in December in a house fire that was ruled an accident, per authorities

Gyaw Way.
Credit: Ramsey County Sheriff's Office

NEED TO KNOW

• Gyaw Way allegedly shot a 17-year-old boy believing the teen's father caused a fire that killed his own son
• The teen's father was with him in the car but unable to render help because he is an amputee, police said
• One of Way's sons allegedly hid the firearm while another told police both suspects are mentally unwell

Authorities in Minnesota arrested a man — who lost his son in a fire in December — in connection with the shooting of a 17-year-old boy last week.

Gyaw Way, 61, is accused of attacking the child, who suffered gunshot wounds in his liver and lung in St. Paul, Minn., on Tuesday, April 7, according to court documents cited by KARE 11, KSTP and the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Police responding to the shooting found the teen suffering from life-threatening injuries inside a car, per the documents, the outlets reported. The child was screaming in pain, KARE 11 reported.

In December, Way lost his own son to a house fire, per the outlets. The St. Paul Fire Department ruled the young man's death as accidental, per the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Witnesses alleged to police that Way had a grievance against the teen's father because, "for some reason," he believed that man was responsible for the December fire, according to the outlets, citing court documents.

PEOPLE was unable to find any records indicating the fire to being criminal in nature, or anyone named as a suspect in connection with that blaze.

According to the complaint, per the outlets, Way allegedly lured the father of the teen to the residence by claiming he would be returning money Way had previously borrowed from him.

The man and his son went to the residence, where KARE 11 reported Way was staying since the fire, and that Way allegedly shot the child after getting into the car.

The teen's father, who has an amputated leg, was unable to render help because of his disability, per the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

One of Way's sons is accused of hiding the firearm after the alleged shooting, KARE 11, KSTP and the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported, citing authorities. Another one of Way's sons arrived at the scene and told police his father and his brother were mentally unwell, per records cited by KSTP and the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Way, who reportedly spoke Korean following his arrest, allegedly told police in English “sorry,” “baby die” and “no accident," per the complaint, the outlets reported.

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The 17-year-old is expected to survive.

Way has been charged with felony first-degree assault, the outlets reported, citing court documents.

Plea and attorney information for either were not immediately available.