These teens have families in town....nice people...I don't think it was necessary to post this on fb. Immediate information can make for some real suffering....I would have held on to this one.

I agree...both these kids have families who have been grown and raised in this town...It was not necessary to post this at all...the kids have been arrested and will have their day in court...This happened 4 hours ago, it was a BB gun, and its gonna really hurt these kids feelings to have this right on the front page of the town newspaper over an obvious act of stupidity..1st time offense for both kids and they are both go to class with ALL YOUR KIDS at NORTON HIGH...This one incident is another obvious attempt to tare down these kids even more and I would be embarrassed if I was a reporter on this website...

Are you serious? There were people in the yard. Someone could have been caught in the eye.

I know someone who is the child of a good Norton family. That person's name was in the Sun Chronicle a while ago, and their family was embarrassed over a publicized offense that is now legal. If these two boys are sons of nice Norton families, they are not helping the "Townie" image.

If its embarrassing to have this posted everywhere, perhaps the boys shouldn't have gone out drinking and shooting at houses.

I disagree, this was news and whether it was published today or next week in the Norton Mirror it makes no difference. Would I be ashamed? Yes but also know that if they were my kids they'd pay a price at home as well as have their day in court. (My child would have a long chore filled summer vacation) Do children make stupid choices? Yes they are still kids but if children are sheilded from experiencing the full consequences of their actions they never learn and are doomed to repeat their actions pushing the boundries of unacceptable behavoir further and further.

Having a nice family does not prevent a teen from making stupid mistakes. It also should not prevent them from being accountable for their actions, including the embarassment that comes with it. Im sure their lack of previous offenses, their families role in the community, and their age will be taken into account in court. But to imply it shouldnt be reported is ridiculous.

Hurt their feelings? Are you kidding me?

My comment was about the families of these boys...not the kids. I don't see that this fit in with the other posts I've read on Patch news alert. List it in with the fire/police log where it belongs. I have yet to see other town residents drunk driving/domestic abuse/breaking and entering posted to fb. I like reading Patch articles....If my son goes to someone's house for a party in town and he makes a grave error in judgement (which alot of them do) I guess I can rest assured you'll let me know on fb if the police don't get to me first!!

all of you church poeple up a little early aren't you. i'v raised my son for 17 years and will continue to till i die .that includes all his dumb ass choices and all his accomplishments . so thanks for your concern im not embaressed about anything, dissapointed in his choice of activitys yes . but its sad to see that you people cant see the true humanistic values of life. not once have i ever heard of lucas being disrespectful to an adult. if he had a conversation with any one of you people he would change your minds about him being a bad kid. its ashame that you people think its an embarrasment for a family just because of one stupid mistake, like anyone of you havent made a choice you regret.

I support Edward. Have any of you (with the exception of one particular name I know above) spoken ONCE...or rather, have SEEN any of these boys before? Probably not. These are real people, no need to over exert your naive opinions here...especially with the "they go to NHS with your kids" line, are you serious?

I love how the police put out this press realease like it was a major arrest. I question why NPD had to take the time to put out a press release like it was a huge arrest and throwing the names of the kids out there for everyone to see. I've never seen a police department (except mansfield) that loves to put themselves in the spot light even for minor arrests, give me a break. Kids make mistakes and I am sure anybody out there has done something wrong too when you were 17-18.

They were not drunk, a bottle of booze booze was just found and for the record, I have never seen a case like this posted on your website before...it should be in the police and fire log...dont you think that there are more important stories to cover? Its because you live in this small town..both these kids are great and very respectful teens...I feel bad for this reporter if this is your biggest story of the day...

I can understand the fact that kids make mistakes as we all did growing up. It is also clear that parents make mistakes as well such as allowing kids to have these types of weapons. I do not care if it is a rifle or a pellet gun you are inflicting a level of responsibility on KIDS. Imagine if you were the one standing on your lawn getting shot at. I understand that these kids may be good kids but good kids to not drive around drinking at 17 shooting at people or houses. Life is full of choices and repercussion, and these kids made the choice to shoot at people and now they are on the front page of the paper. Yes, embarrassing but well deserved. I can tell you right now, the people that got shot at do not care if they are good kids, and I do not blame them. I think not only was this article deserved, but the people that were shot at deserve an apology.

Well Michael I appreciate your attempt to question my parenting skills but it was not there air soft gun. It was just in the truck but yes they did decide to do it, it's obvious the kids were involved with much wrong doing. To there defense they were not drunk. Thats why they got charged with minor posession of alcohol and not a DUI or underage drinking. and if this website was consistent with there minor arrests being a major headline then that'd be ok but I do believe that it was just because of who these kids were is the reason they were highly publisized, and thats not right. And it's obvious this was a bad act, were not saying it isnt just because there good kids, were saying that this should be not that big of a major press release. Thank you Michael

Short and sweet. These guys broke the law, in public, potentially hurting a person, who was minding their own business, on their own private property.

Anyone who is going to do this sort of act gives up their right to privacy, especially when the act endangers another in their own home.

Arguing where the information becomes public is rather insignificant compared to the event itself.

Well put, Michael and Tim.

Careful of throwing those stones in your glass houses!! More than once I've judged as a parent only to be judged myself at times....your children are certainly not perfect. I know of recent things that students have done that have not received this kind of attention. This article with their pictures ONE being under eighteen was ridiculous. Hopefully a lesson learned here, Norton Patch!

Kids learn best from their own mistakes. Let's hope that these boys, as well as their classmates learn from what has happened and what is yet to come. As a parent, I can see and sympothize with both sides of this " not so thought out" prank, bit we need to have faith in the authorities to do the right thing here.

The story was also on the front page of the Sun Chronicle. Speaking strictly from a news standpoint - this is a story and deserves the attention it is getting. These are kids, and people will make their own judgments, but it is what it is. No one should be judging parenting, kids (and adults like us) sometimes do dumb things. Sometimes no one notices, and other times you wind up on the front page. Life isn't fair sometimes.

I have lived in town now for a few years and don't recognize the names of the teens involved nor does it matter. What they did was definitely wrong and deserved to be put in the paper whether it be the small town of Norton or not. At 17(considered adult) and 18 they know this is serious bussiness. It was shot at someone!!They were not just shooting cans! Regardless we have all made mistakes when we were young and sometimes you need to fall. There is no excuse for what they did. They may not be bad kids at all and may have very nice families...I just hope they learn from what they did and am glad no one was hurt. What if it you and your family that was outside your home randomly getting shot at with the BB gun?I bet some might feel different. You can only try and teach them right from wrong and hope they follow the right road but they should be held accountable for their actions.

I'm sorry Holly, but, if my children spent time with these boys, I would want to know about it and would limit their time with them to the classroom only. I know someone who now has a glass eye thanks to a teen incident with an air rifle. Access to a gun of any kind, combined with the alcohol - no matter what the amount - labels these boys as bad influences.

Bill - Just saw your post...Thank you!

I do understand your expertice here Mr. Gouveia but, there are litterally a million different things that could of taken the spot of this article on ANY newspaper, how can you not say that is a justifed arguement? I also heard this was thrown around on "Facebook", now thats just overkill. Get your act together NortonPatch.

And okay "Soapbox", lets relax here, a "shotgun" BB gun would not be within proxmity of a person if the gun was fired from the street. I suggest you find something better to read up and discuss on rather than continue to add fire to an article which is indifferent with the incident you "witnessed" and especially since your opinion has already been heard or rather, saw.

Don't shoot the messenger, Random. It was news, and it was reported. Both the Patch and the Sun Chronicle handled it correctly, in my opinion. Let's let the kids make good on their mistake and move on. But blaming the media - in this case - is just not valid.

It was found in the appropraite area under"Police and Fire" on Patch but if you ask for facebook updates when you sign up then that is what shows up. Welcome to 2011...like it or not this is what has come of modern tech!
And "Random" these people were in the front yard of THEIR property when the "shotgun"BB gun was shot. And yes that is within proximity from the road. Come on now!Stop making excuses for these two YOUNG ADULTS who made a bad decision! Bad decisions=Consequences. Unfortunetly this one is not as easy as just taking the XBOX away for a day to teach a lesson the these two. As I said if it was you that it happened too you would want it reported as well. The fact that there is this much controversy over something like this being reported is puzzling.

theres more things to worry about in this world than kids shooting bb guns. personaly noone cares about this

Yeah. I really hate it when news sites post news. Can you believe the nerve and audacity??

I'm really troubled by the people who think this shouldn't have been reported. First of all, it's absolutely news. Innocent people were in their front yard when a couple of kids with a gun (albeit a BB gun) and alcohol pulled up and started shooting their houses. In a small town, that's news. Every time. Period.

But even more troubling is the notion that simply because these are kids with well-liked families who have been here for years, that the news shouldn't be published. You're implying it would be OK to print the news if they were kids of families who had just moved to town, and that is ridiculous. Who cares if these families have been in town forever and a day. That doesn't matter at all. I know kids make dumb mistakes (I sure did when I was their age) and this doesn't mean they're bad kids. It also doesn't mean their parents are doing a bad job. It means they're kids who made a stupid mistake.

But they should be in the paper and on this website. They should have their names and mugshots online. And they shouldn't get out of it just because they've lived here a long time. The job of a newspaper (in print or online) is to print the news. That's it. Not to filter the news depending on who is involved.

And the fact that some of you are saying otherwise is extremely unsettling.

First I give props to the folks that used their names. If you have a comment hiding behind a "handle" is cowardice. I think it's awesome that everyone has an opportunity to express their opinion. No one should make excuses for bad behavior. Ed certainly wasn't. I have a son who is friendly with one of the boys and knows the other. If within a short time of the incident I saw it popping up on fb and it was my sons pic facing me, I'd be sickened. Embarrassed. Ready to kill him, for sure:( But I don't think the pic's were necessary, they weren't in the Sun. I know of other incidents just as big as this and they did not make the fb on the Patch.I'd have seen it...I'm on all the time!!! The truth, read the update, people at the Patch, people in town were so excited, worked up, euphoric......the town was charged and I personally don't think this would have got the attention it did on another day. It was wrong, they will learn, let's be careful of human upset...not everything should be for us all to know about....but luckily, it's just my opinion. I take no offense to any other. By the way, Patch, if my son gets pulled over, caught drinking, creates a disturbance before he graduates, call me first:)

OK so every teenager that does something wrong in Norton, lets publish it and have them humilated and their families throughout town. I just think its laughable that NPD had to write a press release about this. Maybe they should be spending there time on busting people with drugs or stopping drunk drivers instead of taking the time to write up press releases so they can have there glory.

Luke and Matt should not be publicly tantalized by everybody's commenting on the situation. Although their effrontery was a bit juvenile, they are still good people regardless of their mistakes. You were all teenagers before, thus you know that good people make poor decisions, but in most cases they learn from their mistakes; as I'm sure Luke and Matt will. Let's put it this way; no one was physically harmed in this event so you people who claim to be more mature than these teens should not emotionally harm Luke and Matt by leaving these harsh comments they most likely read. You're hateful comments can go a long way especially at their age. Keep your head up kids, don't let these comments degrade you. Live and Learn from you're mistakes, take this situation not as a reason to stop living your life but in come cases to make wiser decisions. Keep up the good work Edward Potvin, you are an outstanding father and don't let these judgmental people make you think otherwise.

When a crime is committed, its not the responsibility of the press or police department to determine whether they may be hurting the feelings of the people who committed the crime or their families. Are we concerned about the woman victim who is 8 months pregnant standing in her front yard when what appeared to be a rifle poked through a window of a passing truck? They fired shot! You people can't be serious? Their effrontery was more than a bit juvenile, it was criminal. I didn't read anything about them being publicly tantalized nor did I read anything where either of the kids parents had their parenting skills questioned. This is America. They have every opportunity to redeem themselves in the eyes of the law and their community. They committed a pretty shameful act and I hope they are ashamed of their actions. If not, we have bigger problems here.

As a sibling to one of the subjects at hand, I was appalled to see their pictures here. That was what I was really upset about! Sure front page on the Sun Chronicle, whatever, but they did not post their mug shot. And "Private", your right, taking away the Xbox for a day or two wont serve fit for punishment, but with the way you probably raise your kids, they wont have any responsibility to loose because you dont give them the chance to have their own lives and make mistakes. Trust me, both families of these kids have dealt with the issue, and it was not necessary to further embarrass these kids by posting their picture. Its shameful. Why must you do it?

IM SURE that anyone who has ever met either one of these kids will be quick to tell you they are nice kids who had never disrespected an adult. AND to the idiot that keeps bringing up the alcohol, did the article say anything about a DUI? or under the influence of anything? No it did not, because they were not drunk and or drinking. . So if you do not know what you are talking about, you should probably not make assumptions. If you met these kids, you would agree. And the parent who said they would want to limit their kid to hanging out with these two is also a bad statement as you wouldnt know even if you wanted to. And the parents did not know that these kids had these weapons! Like Mr.Potvin said. Norton Patch picked these kids because of who they are, as Ive never seen a crime like this reported as a major headline!

Let me start by saying I have absolutely no control or say in what gets printed in the Sun Chronicle or on Patch except for what I write personally. Having said that, I have to take exception to the statement that "Norton Patch picked these kids because of who they are". That is just not true. I guarantee you Norton Patch didn't even know who these kids were, other than their names because of the police report. Their names appeared because of what they did - who they were was never relevant. Who they were played no part in deciding to publish or not. And any statement to the contrary is just factually incorrect and not backed up by any facts at all. I understand the sensitivity involved here, and I actually sympathize as a parent. But this was news, and it was reported in the Mirror also. If these kids were singled out by anyone, it certainly was not Norton Patch or any other local newspaper or media outlet. I do not want to subject these kids to any more than the situation properly calls for, but I also don't want to turn them into victims here.

I'm not familiar with the Hamel kid, but I do know Potvin. Is he a bad student...yes does he get a lot of criticism because of it...yes. He is one very very very very respectful kid though. I have never seen him disrespect an adult and i think putting a mugshot of the kid up is only gonna hurt his reputation even more. Luke is too smart and Mr.Potvin is too wise to allow this to happen again. My sons on the football team with luke and says hes very bright very respectful and a great leader. This wont happen again guarentee

It has come to my attention at my sons and Luke's game tonight that the boys are reading this.That ALOT of kids are reading this!! So I propose we stop giving them any more to read. It's done. They are sorry. A wrong was done. It's over. IT'S BEEN HANDLED FOLKS. Let's go back to living life!! Forgiveness is a wonderful thing....unless, of course, one of you is perfect???

Holly - I use a "handle" because MY family may not agree with my opinions and I don't want to EMBARRASS them. When I was a teen and some kids I knew said they were going to toilet paper a yard, I questioned their judgement and, when it was obvious that they were going to go ahead with it, I said, "No thanks." and went home.

I'm glad they posted the pictures and their names. If my kids spent time with these boys, I would no longer allow them to do so socially.

To the sibling - I'm sorry that your brother made some wrong choices, but in regards to the alcohol...They are high school students and they had ALCOHOL...They are minors. It is ILLEGAL. (And no...I didn't drink in high school - If I had, my parents would have given me consequences that would have lasted into my first week of college.)

Matthew Perry - You wrote, "theres more things to worry about in this world than kids shooting bb guns. personaly noone cares about this". It's obvious that people care. Have you read any of these comments? Reading this article could make a parent worry about allowing their children to play in the front yard.

OMG!! If your words embarrass your family...think twice!! Give it up, for cripes sake!! Enough already!

Soapbox you were obviously a goodie two shoes loser in high school, and you're picking a battle to put Luke and Matty down, probably for a personal reason with your kids. You honestly need to take it easy. It's clear they screwed up we get that, now stop reiterating the fact. Luke made a bad decision, but he's honestly a good kid, a good leader and someone who made a wrong decision.

-Jeremy Wright
...notice how I put my name in there and am not hiding annonymously ... Don't you teach your kids about cyber bullying ? You're doing it.

Jeremy: Giving an honest opinion is not cyber-bullying. Soapbox never personally attacked the two teens in question. He (I'm assuming Soapbox is a guy) is saying what they did was wrong, harmful and he questions the wisdom of letting his own kids hang around others who make bad choices. What's wrong with that? I'm a parent and I totally agree. And if being a "goodie two shoes" in high school means never driving around shooting at people, then I'm OK with that designation. Displaying common decency is not goodie two shoes.

Like I said before, maybe they are really good kids who made a bad decision. But this wasn't something spur of the moment done in a fit of stupidity. This was the premeditated procuring of a gun, driving around and making a decision to fire it into occupied yards. And according to all of you they weren't under the influence of alcohol (even though kids always just drive around with booze not planning to drink it right??), which means their judgment wasn't clouded. That's actually worse, because it means they were totally sober and clear-thinking when they decided to shoot at people's houses.

I understand the inclination of friends and family members to rise to the defense of these kids. So do it and give your two cents. But criticizing other people for (justifiably) knocking these teens for doing something dangerous like shooting a gun at a residence, as well as the media for simply doing its job, is just...well, stupid. Sorry, but it's true.

I'm just saying don't criticize Ed, Luke, or Matty, or give you're uncalled for opinion about them when you're on the computer behind a screen name, when we all know you wouldn't confront any of them in public by saying what you are on here. It's just annoying to be completely honest. And my opinion isn't in there defense as a friend or a family member, but I know what happened first hand. There's more to what happened than what was published here and the chronicle, think about that too.

And they were clearly singled out. If there dads were cops, firefighters or anything to so with the town of norton, you can be sure this wouldn't have got written as a press release. Just like when parties are broken up and everyone gets busted, except for the kids of police officers because they always let them go. It's not as fair as you all self righteous people think it is

To start "Holly" you started this whole commenting mess and it was ok for you to give your opinion!You do not have any bussiness telling other people to stop with their opinions on here. No one has personally bashed either of these young adults. It is just they need to own what they have done and no it shouldn't be life as usual at the "game" for these boys. You shoot a BB gun at people and are caught not to mention with alcohol in the truck but "play ball fellas" two days later!!Come on! And to Jeremy who I believe posted he knew first hand what happened and others should keep there comments to themselves here.....Unless you are admitting to being in the front yard of the residence or being present in the truck with them. You should think twice about what you say you know!!

Jeremy: I don't know the kids or the parents. I have no dog in this fight. I also never criticized the parents, because I know first-hand you can raise a kid right and they're still going to screw up. But sorry, what's annoying is people coming to the defense of kids who obviously deserved to be arrested and have their names/photos in a news story. THAT is annoying.

But you keep saying these kids were "singled out." Who are they or their parents that the cops would want to single them out or specifically embarrass them? Are these kids famous? Are their parents notorious in town? And if you were there, why don't you enlighten us, Paul Harvey, and give us the rest of the story. What wasn't in the article? What other facts should we know? If you're not willing to disclose them then frankly you shouldn't bring it up at all. Either come out with facts or don't, but don't sit there and say "I know the story, you don't know the story but I'm not gonna tell you the story." Talk about annoying.

But nice job trying to deflect the blame. These kids shoot up a neighborhood with a BB gun, get caught and now you try to turn them into the victims. The police were mean to them, the media mistreated them, other kids don't get in trouble. I don't care! We're talking about these kids. No one else. And if they did what they're accused of doing then they deserve all of this criticism. Period. End of story.

Jeremy, I've known you since you were a little guy, right??? It made me very proud to read your comments and I'm sure your mom is too. Your views are respectfully expressed and I share a few of them too:) Now all I need to know is how to get these comments off my email because enough already.....REALLY!! Have a nice weekend.....everyone:)))

Holy, you're as whacked as these two. Everyone who knows you gives no credence tour comments

These "kids" are old enough to be in the military. They are criminals and a cancer on our town. Everyone knows that they have committed many other crimes and are drug dealers as well. They will end up in Walpole sooner or later. The sooner the better.

Fred, let it go. The incident is well over a month old and both Luke and Matt have been trying very hard to get their life's back on track. Everyone makes stupid mistakes and learns from them, and we're all aware of the stupidity involved in this incident . There is no need to attack these boys by saying "they are criminals and a cancer to our town", that is highly uncalled for. People like you who are STILL ridiculing these boys for their stupid mistake are the real "cancer" to our town and you should be ashamed of yourself for such a hash comment towards these defenseless teens who you have probably never met in your life.

Any gun, even an air rifle from Wall Mart is a firearm and needs to be handled in a LEGAL and safe manner. It is getting harder for law abiding citizens to own guns because of criminals like your son....An air rifle is a weapon and you can try to downplay your children's crime as much as you want......But he is a felon. Unless he is bi-polar or slightly retarded it is your fault for not raising him right and the whole community knows it .... Kids that shoot houses with a BB gun obviously were not taught the difference between right and wrong by their parents and will someday graduate to drive by shootings with real guns or other major crimes. (look at that Chris Campbell kid from Norton Estates that just got sentenced to 5 years at Walpole). Your son was obviously under the influence of drugs or alcohol when he committed this felony and I would bet major money that this is just the start of his life of crime......Everyone in town knows that he is a pot selling low life and is a cancer on our community...... His crimes are felonies and he should be in jail to separate him from the rest of the law abiding community and it is YOUR fault. Everyone with a brain knows that you posted your nonsense because you are trying to downplay the actions of your son...THE FELON that you did a lousy job of raising.....so stop posting on this site because it makes you seem even more stupid than you obviously are.

Fred, your a low life loser. i dont sell pot

dear Coward, (fred), i am bi-polar actually. its rather hilarious you find time in your life to be criticizing me and my friend and to be honest your a coward. if your feeling about this is so unbearable you have to share it with everyone then you should of called me and told me how you felt. not under a fake name, love luke