This just doesn't sound right.
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Norcross teen killed using officer's gun
Cop was also coach of victim's soccer team; investigators calling shooting accidental.
Rochelle Carter - Staff
Gwinnett police are investigating the death of a 13-year-old Norcross boy who apparently shot himself with a gun handed to him by an off-duty Chamblee police officer.
Jairo Govea Gomez, of Riva Ridge Drive, died in his parents' Norcross bedroom from a single gunshot wound to the chest Friday night, according to his parents.
Jairo shot himself after his soccer coach, Tim Heiberger, 35, a Chamblee police officer, allowed him to examine the officer's department-issued Glock Model 22 .40 caliber handgun, Gwinnett police spokesman George Gilson said.
Heiberger told investigators that he gave the boy the weapon after he thought he had rendered it safe, but at some point Jairo turned the weapon on himself and it fired.
Investigators said it appears the shooting was accidental, but the investigation is ongoing, Gilson said.
But Jairo's parents, David Govea and Teresa Gomez, said they have a lot of unanswered questions about the incident.
They do not know why Heiberger was in their bedroom with their son and another boy that the couple does not know. They also don't understand why a police officer would give his weapon to a teenager. And they have trouble believing that Jairo would point the gun at himself, Govea said.
"My son is not stupid," Govea said Saturday afternoon, tears streaming down his face. "I tried to find out exactly what is going on, but an accident, I don't think so."
Chamblee Police Chief Marc Johnson said although there is no departmental policy stating that "an officer will not give his unloaded or loaded weapon to a child," it defies logic that a seasoned officer like Heiberger would do such a thing.
"I'd have to believe any police officer with any sense would tell you you would never take your weapon out of the holster and give it to" anyone to examine or play with, Johnson said.
Heiberger, who has worked for Chamblee for a year and for more than a decade with Norcross police, was suspended without pay pending an internal investigation by Chamblee police, Johnson said. It was while Heiberger worked with the Norcross Police Department that he started working with Hispanic kids in the soccer league, Johnson said.
Heiberger has a clean record with the department and is known as a cop who enjoys interacting with the community, Johnson said.
Attempts to reach Heiberger, who lives in Norcross, were unsuccessful Saturday.
Govea said Heiberger first befriended their son about two weeks ago. Heiberger would come by their Chamblee clothing store almost daily and talk to Jairo about soccer, but said little to his parents, Govea said. The boy recently spent a night at the police officer's home, Jairo's father said.
Jairo left the family's store Friday evening with Heiberger and the boy who was in the room when the shooting occurred, Govea said. Heiberger told Govea he would take Jairo to their home.
Shortly before 10 p.m. Jairo called his parents at their store to say he was at home with Heiberger and the other boy. By the time the couple arrived home, their house was surrounded by police cars and emergency medical vehicles, and police told them that their boy was dead, Govea said.
Jairo's parents said their oldest child liked to fish and play video games. He took his first communion in May. In June, he completed eighth grade at Lilburn Middle School and would have begun his freshman year at Meadowcreek High School on Monday. The day he died Jairo told his mother that he wanted to be a veterinarian when he grew up.
Jairo's funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at R.T. Patterson Funeral Home in Norcross.
In addition to his parents, Jairo is survived by a brother, David, and sister, Teresa, both of Norcross; paternal grandparents David Govea and Agripina Govea Gomez; and maternal grandparents Guadaloupe Zavala and Juan Gomez, all of Mante Tamaulipas, Mexico.
© 2000 Cox Interactive Media
http://www.accessatlanta.com/partners/ajc/epaper/editions/sunday/local_news_9369738d409e013200be.html
Norcross teen killed using officer's gun
Cop was also coach of victim's soccer team; investigators calling shooting accidental.
Rochelle Carter - Staff
Gwinnett police are investigating the death of a 13-year-old Norcross boy who apparently shot himself with a gun handed to him by an off-duty Chamblee police officer.
Jairo Govea Gomez, of Riva Ridge Drive, died in his parents' Norcross bedroom from a single gunshot wound to the chest Friday night, according to his parents.
Jairo shot himself after his soccer coach, Tim Heiberger, 35, a Chamblee police officer, allowed him to examine the officer's department-issued Glock Model 22 .40 caliber handgun, Gwinnett police spokesman George Gilson said.
Heiberger told investigators that he gave the boy the weapon after he thought he had rendered it safe, but at some point Jairo turned the weapon on himself and it fired.
Investigators said it appears the shooting was accidental, but the investigation is ongoing, Gilson said.
But Jairo's parents, David Govea and Teresa Gomez, said they have a lot of unanswered questions about the incident.
They do not know why Heiberger was in their bedroom with their son and another boy that the couple does not know. They also don't understand why a police officer would give his weapon to a teenager. And they have trouble believing that Jairo would point the gun at himself, Govea said.
"My son is not stupid," Govea said Saturday afternoon, tears streaming down his face. "I tried to find out exactly what is going on, but an accident, I don't think so."
Chamblee Police Chief Marc Johnson said although there is no departmental policy stating that "an officer will not give his unloaded or loaded weapon to a child," it defies logic that a seasoned officer like Heiberger would do such a thing.
"I'd have to believe any police officer with any sense would tell you you would never take your weapon out of the holster and give it to" anyone to examine or play with, Johnson said.
Heiberger, who has worked for Chamblee for a year and for more than a decade with Norcross police, was suspended without pay pending an internal investigation by Chamblee police, Johnson said. It was while Heiberger worked with the Norcross Police Department that he started working with Hispanic kids in the soccer league, Johnson said.
Heiberger has a clean record with the department and is known as a cop who enjoys interacting with the community, Johnson said.
Attempts to reach Heiberger, who lives in Norcross, were unsuccessful Saturday.
Govea said Heiberger first befriended their son about two weeks ago. Heiberger would come by their Chamblee clothing store almost daily and talk to Jairo about soccer, but said little to his parents, Govea said. The boy recently spent a night at the police officer's home, Jairo's father said.
Jairo left the family's store Friday evening with Heiberger and the boy who was in the room when the shooting occurred, Govea said. Heiberger told Govea he would take Jairo to their home.
Shortly before 10 p.m. Jairo called his parents at their store to say he was at home with Heiberger and the other boy. By the time the couple arrived home, their house was surrounded by police cars and emergency medical vehicles, and police told them that their boy was dead, Govea said.
Jairo's parents said their oldest child liked to fish and play video games. He took his first communion in May. In June, he completed eighth grade at Lilburn Middle School and would have begun his freshman year at Meadowcreek High School on Monday. The day he died Jairo told his mother that he wanted to be a veterinarian when he grew up.
Jairo's funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at R.T. Patterson Funeral Home in Norcross.
In addition to his parents, Jairo is survived by a brother, David, and sister, Teresa, both of Norcross; paternal grandparents David Govea and Agripina Govea Gomez; and maternal grandparents Guadaloupe Zavala and Juan Gomez, all of Mante Tamaulipas, Mexico.
© 2000 Cox Interactive Media
