Charges dropped against 14-year-old who shot best friend

The victim, whose name was not released, remained in critical condition Tuesday at University Medical Center, a spokeswoman said.

The victim and two friends had been playing with guns inside a home near Hacienda Avenue and Maryland Parkway when the shooting happened about 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Police arrested a 14-year-old boy for the shooting, based on statements made to homicide investigators by a 13-year-old boy who lived at the home.

The statements, however, later turned out to be a fabricated tale created by the younger boy who was fearful he'd otherwise get in trouble, police said.

"He reported that the (14-year-old boy) barged into the house and shot the victim as the result of some type of ongoing conflict," homicide Sgt. Ken Hefner said.

Officers booked the 14-year-old boy into Clark County Detention Center as an adult. After a further investigation, homicide detectives determined that the shooter and the victim were best friends who had no conflict between them and that the gun had accidentally discharged, Hefner said.

The boy was released from jail, and all charges were dropped. The case is being reviewed by the district attorney's office.

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