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Teen shooting suspect told father, 'I'm crazy'
By Brad Witty
As 16-year-old Edward Ji sits in a holding cell in the Collin County Juvenile Detention Facility, his father, Su Min Ji, 52, continues to ponder what led his son to open fire on 14-year-old Bryan Chevalier last Saturday in the 6500 block of Scottsdale Way in Frisco.
When asked if his son had ever been in trouble with police or even handled a gun, Ji said that he hadn't.
"Most of the time he is very nice. I think he is sick," Ji said.
"They said he needed a doctor," said Ji. The parents were looking into seeking help, and trying to communicate with Edward about his troubles, but it was tough-going.
"He don't listen to me," said Ji. "He and I don't always eat together. We're not together very often."
Frisco police found several books about serial killers in the teen's room, and his father is convinced that the books are what influenced his son.
On Tuesday, the parents visited their son at the Juvenile Detention Facility.
"I say to him, 'Edward, you want to go home?' He say 'No,' " said Ji. The father asked his son about Chevalier and last Thursday's attempted shooting in his own neighborhood, saying, "Edward, you know these people before?"
The son responded, "No," to which Ji continued, "Then why you shoot them?" The son responded, "I'm crazy."
"He is very dangerous. He wants to kill himself," added Ji. The father expressed worry about his son being left alone, because he thought that he might try to take his own life.
"He need to see a doctor," said Ji. "Now he cannot come home. He needs to go to a hospital. He need learn how to live with other people."
The father also expressed concern for the victim and his family. "We are very sorry for the family. I hope the boy is OK in the hospital," he said.
Chevalier is still at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, and is reported to be in critical condition. Doctors removed one bullet while leaving the other. Doctors expect the teen to make a full recovery.
Edward Ji was arrested on Monday night and charged with two counts of attempted capital murder. When asked on Tuesday if the suspect will be tried as an adult, Frisco Police Sgt. McFarlin said, "That's an option we're looking at, but I don't know if they've started that process yet."
As of Wednesday, the Collin County District Attorney's office was reported to be diligently pursuing that option.
The shooting occurred at 9:15 p.m. Saturday in the Sterling Ranch subdivision, when Chevalier was home alone and heard a knock at the door. He said that as he opened the door, he was shot twice in the chest. Officers were able to develop a profile based on the victim's statements.
Ji, who has no previous criminal record, told police that he did not know the victim.
"He picked that house at random," said McFarlin. "He had no idea who would open the door. But if someone did, he had every intention to kill."
Plano police had assisted Frisco police on Saturday in arresting the first suspect, who matched the profile. But a 9-1-1 call reporting a runaway on Tuesday night led Frisco police to the true culprit. When asked about a robbery, the runaway told police about the purchase of a stolen 9-millimeter handgun, which led police to the Ji's home in Frisco.
Ji's father was helpful to Frisco police when they arrived at his home. Police found a weapon that fit the description of Saturday's shooting. Edward Ji was arrested from Kroger Grocery Store, where he worked part-time.
The charged teen also confirmed that he was involved in another shooting last Thursday in Frisco's Starwood subdivision, where he resides.
Ji reportedly entered the back door of a home, and upon seeing an elderly man, attempted to shoot him. The shot missed, hitting a banister in the house. The suspect then escaped.
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