WHITTIER : 12-Year-Old Charged With Murder in Death of Friend

A 12-year-old boy has been charged with second-degree murder in the August shooting death of his 13-year-old friend, which sheriff’s detectives had initially ruled an accident.

Charges were filed this week against the boy, whose name was withheld, said sheriff’s spokesman Matthew Rodriguez.

Jorge Barrera, 13, slept over at a friend’s house the night before he died. He and two buddies were playing with guns that his friend had found in a locked gun cabinet.

The 12-year-old put one round in a .357 magnum pistol, “pointed it at Jorge and pulled the trigger,” Rodriguez said. “The gun fired and struck Barrera in the chest.”