A tragic incident unfolded in the northwest Las Vegas valley when a teenager was fatally shot while playing with a gun they believed to be unloaded. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to the scene after receiving a call just after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 8 News Now reports.
Arriving at the 7100 block of Bramble Court, near Alta and Buffalo drives, officers found two young men who directed them to another location where the teen had been shot. According to police, the victim was discovered in an upstairs loft and was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. "Pretty tragic," Lieutenant Jason Johansson of the LVMPD called the situation, revealing that the friends were "messing around with a loaded firearm" that they believed to be unloaded, in a statement obtained by 8 News Now.
The shooting is believed to be accidental, as the group was playing with the gun when it discharged unexpectedly. The individual responsible for the shooting was taken into custody and, while interviews were still being conducted that evening, police described all parties as cooperative.
After the shooting, residents were escorted to their homes that evening. Medical aid was provided to the victim until he was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead at UMC, according to Johansson's interview with News 3LV.
A similar report from FOX5 Vegas indicates that three juveniles were detained at the scene, including the one who allegedly fired the gun. As the preliminary investigation leans toward the shooting being accidental, the Las Vegas Police are treating the case as a homicide involving juveniles. The incident is still an ongoing investigation.
