SPRING HILL, Fla. — A shooting that sent a Spring Hill boy to the hospital has been deemed "accidental," the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.
It all started just after 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Mariner's Cay Apartment Complex near Ridgeline Lane in Spring Hill. Deputies say they were called to the apartments after learning someone had been shot.
When deputies arrived, they said they found a juvenile boy inside one of the apartments. He'd been shot in the torso. First responders reportedly treated him before he was taken to a local trauma center.
Witnesses reportedly told deputies the person who shot the boy was an 18-year-old who had left the complex via Uber before the deputies' arrival.
The search for the suspected gunman started immediately, the sheriff's office said. Deputies credit school resource deputies in tracking down an address for the teen. He was found a short time later and taken into custody.
As soon as he was in custody, the 18-year-old immediately told deputies the shooting was an accident because he didn't know the gun was loaded. The teen reportedly told deputies he and the boy are friends and were playing video games together in the apartment.
At some point, the 18-year-old took the gun out of his backpack to show his friend. While handling the gun, it went off — hitting the boy in the torso, the sheriff's office said.
The 18-year-old said he left the area because he was scared. Deputies said the teen told them where to find the gun inside his apartment. Authorities are still trying to figure out where the gun came from.
Deputies noted the boy also stated the shooting was accidental before he was taken to the hospital.
Two girls who were in the apartment right before the shooting happened also reportedly told deputies the shooting was an accident, saying the boys are friends and were playing video games.
Deputies said their investigation, coupled with statements from witnesses, the boy and the 18-year-old, concluded the shooting was indeed accidental.
The 18-year-old was released from custody and taken back to his home.
