Teen Dies After Being ‘Accidentally’ Shot In Head By Friend: Manatee County Sheriff

BRADENTON, FL — A 16-year-old boy has died nearly a week after being “accidentally” shot in the head by a friend playing with a handgun in Bradenton, authorities said.

The charges against his friend, a 15-year-old boy, have been upgraded to manslaughter, according to a news release from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Initially, he was charged with attempted manslaughter.

While MCSO released the suspect's name, it is Patch's policy not to identify those in the juvenile court system. The teen was booked into the Manatee Regional Juvenile Detention Center when he was first arrested last week. Patch has reached out to the sheriff’s office to confirm whether the suspect has been charged as a juvenile or adult.

Deputies responded to a shooting in the 900 block of 14th Street E. just before 4 p.m. on July 19, the agency said. A witness told them that the teen had “accidentally” shot himself in the head while holding a gun.

Investigators learned that the victim’s friend was playing with the gun when it accidentally went off, hitting the victim, according to MCSO.

The victim, who hasn’t been named under Marsy’s Law, was brought to Blake Hospital, where he was in critical condition and later died from his injuries.