When playing with a gun
US cop accidentally shoots best friend
In the US, a police officer shot his best friend at a game night in their shared flat. He thought the gun wasn’t loaded so he pulled the trigger.
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Austin W.* (23†) was shot by his best friend at a game night.
Austin W.* (23†) and Andrew L.* (22) were best friends. After high school, the Americans fulfilled their greatest dream and became police officers at the Brevard County Sheriffs Office in Florida (USA). Everything was fine until it turned into an absolute nightmare.
The two men had invited friends to their home in Palm Bay for online video games over the weekend, as reported by the TV station “News 13”. When they took a break from play, Andrew L. pulled out his service weapon as a joke. Believing it wasn’t loaded, he aimed it at his friend and pulled the trigger.
But then a shot was fired that hit Austin W. just below his right eye, according to a police statement. Andrew L. immediately called 911. Panicked, he tried to explain that he had just accidentally shot his friend. But for Austin W. any help came too late, he died before the rescue workers arrived from his gunshot wound.
“A bad and negligent decision”
Police Chief Wayne Ivey wrote about the tragedy “heartbroken” on Facebook. “In an extremely stupid and avoidable accident, a valued member of our police force is dead and forever changing the life of another fine young man – through a bad and careless decision!”
Ivey writes that Andrew L. was devastated. After all, his best friend died because of him. “Yet there is no excuse for this tragic and entirely preventable death,” Ivey said.
The young police officer was arrested after the incident and now faces charges of first-degree manslaughter. He was denied bail. (lrc)
* Names known