Mother Says Teen “Did Not Mean to” Shoot Friend in Back

A teen recovering after being shot in the back Wednesday says her friend didn't mean to shoot her. The 14-year-old suspect's mother agrees.

Ronniesha Hart, 15, told NBC 6 from her hospital bed Thursday that the suspect is like a brother to her.

"He [didn't] mean to do it," Hart said. "But you have to learn from your mistakes, so I don’t think it was on purpose. It was an accident."

“He is sorry for what he did,” the suspect's mother agreed. “He did not mean to do it. It was a friend of his. It was not something that he meant to do.”

Witnesses said Hill's 14-year-old son showed up with a gun while they were hanging out under a carport on 43rd Street in Miami prior to the shooting. Soon after the shooting, Miami police took the suspect into custody.

Ronniesha's sister Ronniye Hart, the victim’s sister, described what he said was the suspect's reaction to the shooting.

"He was trying to help her up, and she was like, 'My back hurt,' and she got on the floor. And then he was like, ‘Oh, don’t call the police. I didn’t mean to do it,'" Ronniye Hart said. "And I’m like, ‘Forget you. You shot my sister."

Police still have not determined where the suspect may have gotten the gun they say he used to shoot the victim. His mother said she can't answer that question, either. "I have no idea," Hill said.

Ronniesha remained hospitalized Thursday. "I just wanna go home man, my back hurt," Ronniesha posted to Facebook.

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