A 16-year-old boy from Arkansas was tragically shot and killed by his friend while they were at a gas station, which is reportedly owned by the suspect’s father. The incident happened just after midnight on Sunday at a gas station on South Washington Street.
Forrest City Police Chief Ronald Broussard told local news that surveillance footage showed the two boys, Lacorey Bogard and the 16-year-old suspect, passing a gun back and forth. While handling the gun, it accidentally went off and shot Bogard. The police chief explained that the boys were playing with the gun, and when one tried to clear it, there was still a bullet in the chamber. The gun went off while the other boy had it in his lap.
Broussard described the victim as a “good kid” who had been trying to make extra money by working at McDonald’s and fixing his car. The chief also said he had spoken with the boy that very morning.
The police have not released the name of the minor who was arrested, but they confirmed the boy was charged with negligent homicide. Chief Broussard expressed his sadness, saying that the victim’s mother is grieving the loss of her son.
In Arkansas, it is illegal for anyone under 18 to have a gun without parental permission. It is unclear who owned the gun or if anyone else will face charges related to the shooting.
The chief warned young people about the dangers of guns, saying, “Guns are serious business, and people are losing their lives.”
This incident follows another tragedy in Minnesota, where a toddler accidentally shot himself in the head on Sunday night. The shooting occurred in Oak Valley Township, near Deer Creek, about 160 miles northwest of the Twin Cities.
