Teen Held in Accidental Shooting
A 17-year-old boy, who allegedly shot a friend to death when a loaded rifle he was handling abruptly fired, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, authorities said Wednesday.
The teen was being held at the San Fernando Valley Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, said Det. Marshall White of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire station.
Robert Villareal, 18, of Sun Valley, died from a single gunshot wound to the upper torso Sunday about 11:30 p.m. at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center after being kept on life support for more than a day.
The shooting occurred Saturday about 4:45 p.m. at a residence in the 16700 block of Knollwood Drive, where Villareal and the 17-year-old boy were guests at a mutual friend’s home. The 17-year-old retrieved a rifle from a closet and the weapon abruptly discharged, striking Villareal, authorities said.
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