Victorville teen accidentally shoots, kills friend, officials say

A 17-year-old was arrested after he accidentally fired a gun and killed his friend in a Victorville home, San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials said Friday.

The incident, which investigators say appears to have been a tragic accident, occurred inside a home in the 13000 block of Bennington Drive before 9 p.m. Thursday, sheriff’s officials said.

The teen, who was not identified because he’s a juvenile, was in a bedroom when he accidentally discharged the gun and shot his friend Ronald McKinzie, 18, once in the torso, killing him, officials said.

Authorities arrested the teen, a Victorville resident, on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm resulting in death and booked him into juvenile hall. It was not immediately clear who owned the gun, officials said.

More than 196,000 people died of gunshot wounds in the United States between 2009 and 2014, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna.

ALSO

Mountain lion prowls high school campus in Granada Hills

Manson follower’s chilling murder description: ‘We started stabbing and cutting up the lady’

UC Berkeley provost resigns after criticism of handling of sexual harassment and financial issues