The police have identified the 15-year-old boy who was accidentally shot and killed by another teen on Wednesday afternoon in Reardan.
The victim was Shadrach Hall-Turner, a student at Reardan High School, as confirmed by Reardan Police Chief Andy Manke. The 16-year-old suspect, who has not been named, may face charges, according to Manke.
The incident occurred when five teenage friends were playing video games, and one of them revealed they had a gun with them.
They started playing with the firearm, which accidentally discharged, fatally shooting Hall-Turner.
Despite the deputies’ immediate arrival after the 911 call, they were unable to resuscitate the victim. After questioning the other four teens, a 16-year-old was arrested.
According to Manke, there were no adults present during the incident, and it is unknown whether charges will be filed against the suspect’s parents.
He stated that the shooting was unintentional and not a result of a fight, but rather due to the mishandling or reckless handling of a firearm that the suspect should not have had in possession.
The police recommend charging the 16-year-old with first-degree manslaughter and unlawful possession of a firearm based on the evidence collected so far, but the final decision rests with the Lincoln County Prosecutor, who has 48 hours to review, amend or make changes to the charges before filing.
Manke emphasized the importance of secure firearm storage and parental supervision, stating that kids should not have access to firearms without adult monitoring.
He further noted that incidents like this occur when unsecured firearms are available to children without adult supervision.
