Juvenile arrested after pointing gun at friend

A 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged with first-degree assault Friday for allegedly pointing an unloaded or malfunctioning handgun at his friend’s head and neck and pulling the trigger several times.

Mason Jaekel, a juvenile who is being charged as an adult, was with friends at his house in the 1300 block of West Wabash Avenue when he took his father’s gun out of a drawer in his bedroom and began shooting at a tree in the backyard, court documents say. Jaekel told police he got the gun because he and two girls were going to Shadle Park and he wanted the gun for protection.

After shooting the tree twice, one of the females told officers that Jaekel began pointing the revolver at her head and neck and telling her it was loaded before pulling the trigger. She texted her boyfriend, whose mom notified police.

Jaekel’s father told officers his son did not have permission to use his firearm, and that if probable cause did not exist to arrest him for theft, that he would like to press charges.

Police made no mention in court documents if the gun was empty or malfunctioned.