Teen Charged In Accidental Shooting

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A 17-year-old St. Petersburg boy faces criminal charges after Pinellas County deputies say he accidentally shot a friend in the back Saturday night.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were called to a home in the 11400 block of 60th Terrace North around 11:14 p.m. Jan. 14. When they arrived, they found the victim and three other teens at the home.

Detectives say they heard several accounts of what led up to the shooting before making the decision to charge the 17-year-old. The teen who stands accused of firing the shot told deputies there had been a home invasion resulting in his friend's injury. The friend, however, told a different story. He identified the 17-year-old as the accidental shooter, an email from the agency said.

Detectives say the other teens present told them the four boys had been sitting around smoking marijuana when the 17-year-old started playing with a handgun he had on him.

“The handgun accidentally discharged and the bullet struck the victim in the back,” the email said.

A Berretta .45 caliber was found hidden under a couch pillow at the home, the email said. That gun, as it turned out, had been reported stolen during a Dec. 9 residential burglary in Seminole.

After interviewing the teen accused in the shooting, deputies charged the boy with culpable negligence and obstruction. Since he was on probation at the time of the arrest, he also faces delinquent in possession of a firearm, delinquent in possession of ammunition and violation of probation charges.

Patch is not identifying the teen charged due to his age.

The boy who was shot suffered serious, but not life-threatening injuries, the sheriff’s office said. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

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