Police Identify Paulding Teen Who Shot Best Friend

PAULDING COUNTY, GA - Police have identified an 18-year-old Paulding County teen who shot his 16-year-old best friend in the face Wednesday at Sara Babb Park. Police say the condition of the boy who was shot seems to be improving. He was in an induced coma at Kennestone Hospital.

Joshua Chestney turned himself into the Paulding County jail Friday morning. He has been charged with reckless conduct, pointing a gun at another and making a false police report.

Sgt. David Lebo, Dallas Police Department, said although it was initially unclear, the shooting appears to be an accident.

"It's a tragedy," Lebo said. "The family are good friends and the boys are good friends. We're saying our prayers for both these families."

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Lebo said Chestney figured out the combination to his father's gun safe and removed the weapon and loaded it himself. The two boys were shooting at a tree in Chestney's back yard.

Later in the day when they went to the park, the two teens were sitting in an SUV in the gravel parking lot near the pool when the gun was fired and accidentally hit the 16-year-old in the face.

Chestney called 911 but reported that there was a sniper in the woods so when police arrived, they immediately evacuated children from a nearby daycare and moved people from the pool to a nearby building to shelter in place.

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Teen Shoots Friend In Face At Paulding Park: Police

Photo courtesy Paulding County Sheriff's Office