Teen pleads not guilty of Morningside shooting

A Sioux City teenager, Nathan Dereje, 17, has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a shooting incident that occurred in Morningside on February 14, which left another teenager injured. Dereje entered his written plea in Woodbury County District Court, facing charges that include willful injury causing serious injury, reckless use of a firearm resulting in serious injury, and being a minor in possession of a dangerous weapon.

The police were called to an apartment complex on Fourth Avenue one evening when they discovered a 17-year-old male with a gunshot wound to his left thigh. According to court documents, Dereje had called 911 himself, claiming that he shot someone who was approaching him with a knife. An investigation revealed that a disturbance had taken place outside the apartment prior to the shooting.

Dereje was identified as the suspect and subsequently arrested. He informed police that he and the victim had a history of previous altercations. On the night of the incident, Dereje claimed he was in a vehicle with the victim and another juvenile male when he withdrew a firearm, exited the vehicle, and shot the victim in the leg after perceiving a threat from a knife.

The firearm used in the shooting was later recovered by authorities and confirmed to have been reported stolen during a burglary in Council Bluffs. Dereje’s attorney, public defender Patrick Jennings, plans to argue self-defense in court.

The case has captured local attention, prompting discussions about public safety and the circumstances surrounding the incident. As the legal proceedings unfold, more details will likely emerge regarding the events leading up to the shooting and the perspectives of those involved.