Houston – Authorities have ended their legal fight to retrieve a bullet lodged in a teenager’s forehead, saying they don’t think they will need it to convict the youth of shooting at a used-car dealer who shot back.
Prosecutors and Port Arthur police had wanted doctors to extract the slug from 17-year-old Joshua Bush’s forehead, saying it would prove his involvement in a shooting that followed a July 21 burglary at a used-car lot. They had twice obtained search warrants for the bullet, but Bush and his attorney fought the removal because they said it would violate Bush’s civil rights.
Port Arthur police Lt. Pat Powell said Wednesday authorities believe they can pursue the case without the bullet.
Bush was arrested Wednesday on an unauthorized-use-of-a-vehicle warrant stemming from the July car-lot burglary, Powell said. He also was charged with aggravated assault and retaliation.
Prosecutors say Bush was among gang members who broke into the car lot and tried to steal vehicles. According to police, Bush tried to shoot business owner Alan Olive, a competitive pistol shooter who returned fire and allegedly struck the teen in the forehead. A bullet, located 2 inches above Bush’s eyes, lies just under the skin. Bush claims he was hit by a stray bullet while sitting on his couch at home.
