Gunshot Victim Dies; Shooting Called Accident

A 17-year-old who was accidentally shot in the head Tuesday by a 14-year-old friend died of his wounds Wednesday afternoon.

John West of Westminster was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. at UCI Medical Center in Orange where he was taken after the shooting, which occurred inside an apartment in the 17000 block of Golden West Street.

Investigators have determined that the shooting was accidental, and the 14-year-old will not face charges, Huntington Beach Police Lt. Charles R. Poe said.

“The victim was sitting on the sofa eating, and the shooter was in front of him playing with the gun,” Poe said. “At one point, he pulled the hammer back and the gun went off and he shot the kid on the top of the head. He called 911 and yelled that he had just accidentally shot his friend.”

The younger boy, whom police would not identify, was released to his parents after questioning.

A second teen-ager who lives in the apartment where the 3:45 p.m. shooting occurred was in another room at the time and did not see the shooting. He was also questioned, then released to his parents, Poe said.

West was hit with a single bullet fired from a .22-caliber revolver, which was found on the floor of the apartment. Police have not been able to determine the gun’s origin or its owner.

“We are getting inconsistent information on where the gun came from,” Poe said. “It is possible that it may have been stolen. At this point, the focus of the investigation is on where the gun came from.”

Police said the three teen-agers inside the apartment were good friends.