VAN NUYS : Boy, 12, Held on Attempted Murder Charges in Shooting
A 12-year-old boy who accidentally shot his 14-year-old friend in the head was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder Friday, authorities said. His friend was hospitalized in critical condition.
The younger boy found the gun in Delano Park about a week ago.
The victim, 14-year-old Victor Tamayo of Pacoima, remained in critical condition at Northridge Hospital Medical Center late Friday with a single gunshot wound to the head, authorities said.
Detectives believe the shooting occurred while the two were playing with the revolver, but police said they arrested the youngster partly because he had lied about his involvement earlier, Detective John Edwards said.
“We have no reason to believe that this was anything other than an accident, but we are continuing to investigate,” Edwards said. The shooting occurred Thursday about midnight when Victor and a 12-year-old were playing with a loaded .38-caliber Colt revolver, police said.
The boys had looked into the cylinder of the gun and mistakenly believed all the chambers were empty, Edwards said. Actually, four of the chambers contained bullets.
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