Boy Accidentally Shot by Playmate
An 11-year-old boy was accidentally shot to death by his 10-year-old playmate as the two played war with rifles they found at the younger boy’s house, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies reported Friday.
Marcos Lopez died at Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina after the Thursday afternoon shooting at the home in the nearby Valinda area.
Investigators said the Lopez boy and his friend, who was not identified, went to the latter’s house after school and looked for an older brother’s BB gun. Instead, officers said, they found an inoperative old rifle and a .22-caliber pump-action rifle they apparently thought was unloaded.
They reportedly simulated firing at each other for half an hour until the Lopez boy decided to leave. His friend pumped the .22-caliber weapon one last time, deputies said. It fired, striking the victim in the chest.
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