Boy, 9, apologizes to shot classmate, judge orders his mom arrested

(CBS/AP) PORT ORCHARD, Wash. - A 9-year-old Washington boy accused of bringing a gun to a Bremerton elementary school which injured a classmate when it discharged told the court "I'm sorry," at his sentencing Tuesday.

Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Karlynn Haberly found the boy guilty Tuesday of misdemeanor charges that included unlawful possession of a gun and bringing a dangerous weapon to school. The prosecutor dropped third-degree assault charges.

The boy was sentenced to 12 months of probation, and ordered to undergo 48 hours of counseling and write a letter of apology to his 8-year-old classmsate, Amina Kocer-Bowman, who remains in serious condition at a Seattle hospital.

Amina was struck in her midsection and arm on Feb. 22, when the gun went off as the boy slammed his bag on a desk in a Bremerton classroom.

The case has put the boy's family under the scrutiny of authorities, who on Monday issued arrest warrants for his mother, Jamie Lee Passmore, and her boyfriend, Douglas L. Bauer. Police allege that the couple left several guns unsecured in their home, allowing the boy to gain access to the .45 caliber gun that he brought to school.

Passmore, who is a felon, is not allowed to own firearms, although investigators found guns in her home on the day of the school shooting. Bremerton police Lt. Peter Fisher said the warrant for Passmore lists two second-degree counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Bauer is wanted for a second-degree count of unlawful possession of a firearm.

The couple is reportedly on vacation in Las Vegas for a NASCAR event, said the boy's attorney, Eric John Makus. Fisher said police were "confident" that the couple will return later this month.

As part of his sentence, the boy was ordered not to contact his mother or her boyfriend. As Judge Haberly laid out the terms, she turned to Amina's parents and said: "I hope your nightmare ends at some point."

She added: "There is a lot of tragedy here on lots of levels, in (the boy's) life, too."

More on Crimesider:
February 24, 2012 - Wash. boy who brought gun to school had parents with drug, violence problems
February 23, 2012 -"Cops: 8-year-old Wash. girl shot by gun in her classmate's backpack"