Boy dies of gunshot wound
A 17-year-old boy died after he was accidentally shot in the neck while he and a friend were playing with a rifle Saturday night, Las Vegas police said.
Police were called about 10:28 p.m. to a residence at the 7300 block of Mountain Thickett Avenue, near Durango Drive and U.S. Highway 95.
Homicide Lt. Lew Roberts said the 17-year-old boy was playing with the rifle with an 18-year-old friend, also a male. The 18-year-old was holding the weapon when it was fired. The names of the victim and the 18-year-old were not released by police.
Roberts said the two friends thought the gun was unloaded.
“It’s just a tragic case of people mishandling firearms and someone dying as a result,” Roberts said. “It wasn’t anything intentional.”
The shooting victim was taken to University Medical Center where he later died.
Roberts said Sunday evening that no one had been arrested in the shooting. Roberts said the rifle was properly registered. He added the case will be submitted to the Clark County district attorney’s office, which will determine whether to pursue charges.
