Porter Ranch Man to Stand Trial for Buddy's Death

A man was ordered Thursday to stand trial in the shooting death of a childhood friend who was an executive at NBCUniversal.

San Fernando Superior Court Judge Beverly Reid O'Connell found
sufficient evidence to require David Andrew Armstrong, 32, to proceed to trial on one count each of murder and involuntary manslaughter -- both stemming from the March 18 death of Brian Russell Kaplon, a digital distribution executive for NBCUniversal.

The two charges include firearm allegations involving a rifle.

They knew each other since they were students at Chatsworth High School.

The shooting occurred about 12:45 a.m. March 18 in the garage of
Armstrong's Porter Ranch home in the 20000 block of Vercelli Way, where the men had apparently been drinking at a St. Patrick's Day party.

Kaplon, also 32, died from at least one shot to the chest, fired from an
AR-15, a semiautomatic, civilian version of a U.S. military's M16. Most fire .223-caliber bullets. Authorities said Armstrong kept a collection of guns in the garage.

An attorney representing Armstrong has said the shooting was accidental.

Armstrong, who is free on $1 million bail, is due back in court for arraignment Sept. 1.

-- City News Service