Warrant issued for shooting ‘accident’

LYNN – Lynn police have issued an arrest warrant for a suspected gang member who allegedly shot a 16-year-old boy in an Edwards Court living room Wednesday – a shooting that was initially deemed an accident.The suspect was identified as Johnny Lay, 17, of 44 Arlington St.Police continued to search for Lay on Monday. His arrest warrant charges him with aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, carrying a loaded firearm and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.”Police are actively trying to locate Lay and place him in custody,” Police Lt. William Sharpe said.According to a police report obtained in Lynn District Court where the warrant was granted, Lay and the victim were hanging out shortly before the 4:30 p.m. shooting occurred.The shooting victim, Brian Khampharasavath, told Lay he had to go inside his 12 Edwards Court home to obtain an item, but asked Lay to wait outside, according to police.Neither of Khampharasavath’s parents was home but his grandmother was on the second floor, police said.For some reason Lay followed Khampharasavath into his home and the two began to horse around when Lay took out his handgun and a shot was fired, striking Khampharasavath in the right arm causing serious injuries, according to police.The grandmother came downstairs to find the boy severely bleeding on living room floor.A bystander transported the victim to a local hospital and the boy’s parents were called.Lay has been identified in police reports for previous arrests as a Crip gang member and is well known to local police.On July 16, police identified Lay as a shooting victim after a bullet struck his foot in Market Square at about midnight.On June 13, Lay was arrested with other gang members after they allegedly took a long time to obey police orders to vacate the Lynn Commons after dark.On May 13, he was arrested for unlicensed operation and receiving a stolen vehicle after he was allegedly caught behind the wheel.