Man faces arraignment in Fremont shooting

8/24/2004

FREMONT - A local man recently indicted on 11 charges stemming from a shooting injury to a 12-year-old boy is to be arraigned Friday in Sandusky County Common Pleas Court.

Steven Nitschke, 36, was indicted last week on five counts each of endangering children and six counts each of improperly furnishing firearms to a minor. The indictments stem from an incident last month in which Mr. Nitschke was accused of accidently shooting a boy, Norman Morse, with a .308 assault rifle he thought wasn't loaded. The boy was hit in the right arm and initially was listed in serious condition in a Toledo hospital.

Fremont police have said the incident involved two adults and several youths between the ages of 12 and 15. At the time, someone suggested playing "a warlike game." They ultimately decided to use real guns, thinking they all were unloaded.