Police: 16-Year-Old Girl Accidentally Shot, Killed Another Teen

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- A 16-year-old girl has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after police say she accidentally shot and killed another teen while handling a firearm.

The teen, whom authorities are not naming, was pulled over by Lawrenceville Police shortly after midnight Thursday, following a two-mile pursuit.

When officers approached the vehicle, they discovered 19-year-old Dominic Smith, of Lawrenceville, in the back seat suffering from a gunshot wound, according to a news release.

Paramedics were called and Smith was taken to a hospital where he later died, the release said.

Police say their investigation revealed that six or seven teens had been hanging out in a parking lot on the 1600 block of Balvaird Drive in Lawrenceville. At least one of them, the 16-year-old girl, was “handling a firearm in an irresponsible manner” and unintentionally shot Smith, they say.

All of the other teens fled the scene, leaving the girl to try to take Smith to the hospital.

She is currently being held at Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center. In addition to involuntary manslaughter, she faces charges of reckless conduct and possession of a pistol by a minor.

Police on Thursday were still trying to locate the firearm and others who witnessed the shooting.

“This is a very tragic and unfortunate situation that could have been avoided,” Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Deon Washington said in the news release. “It highlights one of the worst situations that could happen when teens unlawfully handle firearms.”