'It’s not the gun’: Uncle of 11-year-old Newburgh boy killed in shooting opens up about tragedy in exclusive video
In the more than seven-minute message, Stewart DeGroat Jr. talks candidly about the need for adults to step in and support young people before tragedy strikes.
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The uncle of 11-year-old Matthew DeGroat, the Newburgh boy killed in his home last week during an incident involving several children and a firearm, is opening up in an exclusive video shared with News 12 — reflecting on violence, bullying and the devastating loss of his nephew.
In the more than seven-minute message, Stewart DeGroat Jr. talks candidly about the need for adults to step in and support young people before tragedy strikes.
“It’s not the gun — it’s the mishandling of the gun that leads to gun violence,” DeGroat said. “Tragically, last Thursday, my nephew was shot and killed.”
Matthew, his mother, and his two brothers moved to the City of Newburgh in 2023.
Before that, he attended William A. Carter Elementary School in Middletown and was a Division 1 youth football player known for his kindness and team spirit.
DeGroat also referenced the bullying Matthew faced, which was captured in a video just days before the shooting. An official source close to the case tells News 12 that the video is part of the ongoing investigation.
Police say the shooting happened around 8 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, inside a home on N. Miller Street in the City of Newburgh. Matthew was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Authorities have not said how the shooter got the firearm or who it belonged to.
“We as adults, parents, grandparents need to be on the lookout for this stuff so we can help these children overcome certain situations,” DeGroat said.
He thanked the community for its outpouring of support, the SNUG violence prevention program for continuing to help the family, and the police for their swift response and arrest in the case.
DeGroat also asked people to stop spreading rumors and let the facts come out.
“Please stop,” he said. “For those who are making up stories because they want something to say — let the truth come out. Two families are hurting right now, and no one wins in this situation.”
A 13-year-old boy who is not related to Matthew has been arrested and charged with his murder. He’s being prosecuted as a juvenile offender in Orange County Court.
The DeGroat family says they’re grateful for the community’s love and support and hope to honor Matthew’s memory by promoting peace, accountability, and unity across Newburgh.
Watch the full exclusive video message from Stewart DeGroat here:
