“We’re all victims, unfortunately.” Mario Kirios left court on Friday and when asked if he had any message for Dillon Viens’ family, he replied with the quoted statement.
Last year, Viens was fatally shot while spending time with friends at their residence on Cedar Street. According to reports, Kirios was not present during the incident, but was taken into custody and accused of violating firearm storage regulations.
According to Rhonda Brewster, this photo depicts Dillon Viens.
Last week, investigators changed their initial assessment of the shooting from accidental to homicide after further investigation into Viens’ death.
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested by officers and charged with several offenses, including manslaughter, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, possession of ammunition by a minor, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a minor.
Kirios, the owner of the weapon used in Viens’ killing, has been arrested for the second time and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. On Friday, the defendant entered a plea of not guilty in court and was subsequently released on personal recognizance.
Kirios responded affirmatively when asked if he felt remorseful about the incident.
Kirios stated that “We’re all hurting,”
According to court documents obtained by 12 News, officers were dispatched to Kirios’ residence that evening in response to reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, two adolescent males greeted the officers outside and declared, ““He’s in the house and he shot himself.”
According to court documents, Viens was found lying on the bedroom floor with a gunshot wound to his head when the officers entered the house. According to reports, Viens was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to detectives, five firearms were discovered in Kirios’ residence, all of which were unsecured. One of the firearms found was the same one used to shoot Viens.
Johnston Police Chief Mark Vieira stated that “This tragedy underscores the importance for owners of firearms to properly secure them to prevent shooting deaths such as these involving juveniles,”
According to Rhonda Brewster, Viens’ mother, she testified in support of a proposed legislation that aims to increase the penalties for gun owners who fail to secure their firearms appropriately.
Brewster tearfully stated that “By having those weapons available and accessible to a teenager who was careless … parading the guns around and showing them off to his friends … it ended in the taking of a life,”
According to Brewster, “make sure people are held accountable for securing their firearms.”
According to sources, Kirios is set to appear in court on May 12.
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