Youth Playing With Rifle Is Shot to Death

A 15-year-old Whittier youth was shot and killed Friday at the house of a 14-year-old friend when a rifle the two of them were playing with went off, police said.

The 15-year-old was pronounced dead shortly after 2:30 p.m. Whittier police said the shooting was accidental.

Helen Gomez, a neighbor, said she heard a loud sound and the screams of children about 2:15 p.m. In front of the house, she came upon the 14-year-old, covered with blood and yelling for someone to call 911. Inside, Gomez found the other boy’s body. She didn’t see anyone else in the home.

“He said, ‘We thought there were no bullets,’” Gomez said.

Police Lt. Bill Webster said the boys had found the rifle in the house, but investigators were still trying to determine its owner and where it had been stored. The 14-year-old has been interviewed by detectives, Webster said.

Police declined to identify either boy, and would not say whether adults were in the home when the shooting occurred.

Neighbors said the 14-year-old’s parents are conscientious and work long hours. Gomez said they had warned their children not to have friends in the house when they weren’t home.

Neighbors and friends said the house is frequented by young people for after-school basketball and other games.

“My son used to play with their kids, a lot of kids did,” said Shera Cordova, a neighbor, who added that she had not been aware of any gun in the home. “This is a horrible thing.”

Shane O’Brien, 13, said he had been best friends with the victim since they were in elementary school. His friend, Shane said, loved inline skating so much that he talked about finding a way to do it professionally. “He didn’t deserve this,” said Shane. “I hope he’s doing well wherever he is.”

Kory Fivecoat, another neighbor, brought his 6-year-old boy to the site of the shooting, joining a loose gathering of friends.

“I’m a gun owner, and I wanted to bring him here to teach him a lesson -- my wife insisted on it,” said Fivecoat, 26. “I want my boy to know how dangerous it is to play with guns.”