Teen shot, killed by friend made honorary junior member of Mt. Pleasant VFD

MOUNT PLEASANT, Pa. — A teen whose dream it was to join his father and brother as a member of the Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department was made an honorary junior member Wednesday, a day after what would have been his 14th birthday.

J.R. Gustafson’s life was cut short in March when he was shot and killed by a 14-year-old friend as he was playing with a handgun.%

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A day after J.R. would have turned 14, which is the age he would have been eligible to join the department, he was made an honorary member of the First Ward Hose Company.

“He was just so happy about becoming a junior. That's all he talked about,” Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department President Ken Stewart said.

Family members and friends recalled J.R.’s energy and enthusiasm, marking a moment his parents cherished.

“It was an honor for the whole family,” Mark Gustafson, J.R.’s father, said.

“It's very hard, but we know J.R. is up there watching us and we love him a lot. We miss him a lot, too,” Leah Smith Gustafson, J.R.’s mother, said.

Joshua Hudec and Brooke Nelson are charged with child endangerment and reckless endangerment in connection with the case.

Cox Media Group