Two Lancaster teenaged brothers charged as adults for firing guns during a September shootout will have their cases proceed to county court following a preliminary hearing this week.

In addition, the boys’ mother was also arraigned at Tuesday’s hearing for providing the boys the guns used in the shootout.

Both brothers were charged with aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, being a minor in possession of a firearm and discharge of a firearm within city limits.

Judge Andrew LeFever allowed the case of Joshua Whisman, 16, to proceed to the Court of Common Pleas following a preliminary hearing.

Alexander Whisman, 17, waived his preliminary hearing for the same incident.

Judge LeFever further denied Joshua Whisman’s attorney’s request to reduce his bail, saying he was “not comfortable” allowing Whisman to be released based on the evidence shown in court.

The brothers are charged with opening fire on two others in the 300 block of East New Street shortly after 9 p.m. Sept. 16. No one was injured in the shooting.

A detective who investigated the case told the court the brothers were identified as the shooters.

The shots were fired toward at least two males on the street.

Police later found two handguns at the scene which the brothers admitted to firing during the incident.

Information conveyed to police at the scene and in later interviews also played a role in identifying the brothers as the shooters, the detective told the court.  

In a separate hearing on the same day, Brandi Whisman, the boys’ mother, was charged and arraigned with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of corruption of minors, all misdemeanors.

The boys told police Brandi Whisman, of New Providence, gave them permission to take the guns whenever they wanted, even providing them a key to access the firearms and telling them where the guns were during the incident.

Judge LeFever set Brandi Whisman’s bail at $10,000 unsecured.

Alexander Whisman is also facing a homicide charge in an unrelated case.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Assistant District Attorney Janie Swinehart will prosecute the cases.

Det. Jared Snader of the Lancaster City Bureau of Police filed all charges.