Steve in PA
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http://www.freep.com/news/locoak/nshoot21_20031121.htm
Police question roommate
November 21, 2003
By FRANK WITSIL
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
A Royal Oak man, who was as close as a brother to his roommate and had served with him in the Marines, died Wednesday at his friend's hand.
Police said Michael O'Connell, 27, was accidentally shot Wednesday afternoon by his 26-year-old roommate in their apartment in the 3200 block of Evergreen.
They had been playing a game with a 12-gauge shotgun, police said.
An ambulance rushed O'Connell to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital, where he died within hours after the shooting, investigators said. The roommate, whose name was not released by authorities, was taken into police custody but not charged.
Royal Oak Police plan to present their investigation to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office as early as today. The prosecutor will decide whether charges will be filed.
Police cautioned people Thursday about playing with guns.
"You never, ever, point a gun at another human being unless you intend to use it for the purpose it was designed," said Royal Oak Police Lt. Don Foster. "There are no games with guns."
According to police, O'Connell and his roommate were playing with the shotgun at about 2:30 p.m. in the living room of their two-bedroom Royal Oak apartment in the Arlington complex.
Police said the roommate did not know the gun was loaded and accidentally shot O'Connell at close range in the abdomen. A neighbor heard the gunfire and came to the door.
The neighbor called 911, investigators said. Authorities found O'Connell lying on his back.
Other guns, which were not involved in the shooting, were in the apartment, police said. Investigators found two Glock handguns and a rifle.
Neighbor Stephanie Maxim, who saw the roommates an hour before the shooting, said they had served in the Marines together and O'Connell had moved into the apartment a few months ago. They were as close as brothers, she said.
"If they went out and one drank too much, the other wouldn't let him drive home," Maxim, 34, said. "They watched each other's back."
Maxim said O'Connell was an Oakland Community College student.
"I can't believe it," she said, standing on her steps nearly in tears looking at the apartment where her friend had been shot the day before. "It's so sad."
Police question roommate
November 21, 2003
By FRANK WITSIL
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
A Royal Oak man, who was as close as a brother to his roommate and had served with him in the Marines, died Wednesday at his friend's hand.
Police said Michael O'Connell, 27, was accidentally shot Wednesday afternoon by his 26-year-old roommate in their apartment in the 3200 block of Evergreen.
They had been playing a game with a 12-gauge shotgun, police said.
An ambulance rushed O'Connell to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital, where he died within hours after the shooting, investigators said. The roommate, whose name was not released by authorities, was taken into police custody but not charged.
Royal Oak Police plan to present their investigation to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office as early as today. The prosecutor will decide whether charges will be filed.
Police cautioned people Thursday about playing with guns.
"You never, ever, point a gun at another human being unless you intend to use it for the purpose it was designed," said Royal Oak Police Lt. Don Foster. "There are no games with guns."
According to police, O'Connell and his roommate were playing with the shotgun at about 2:30 p.m. in the living room of their two-bedroom Royal Oak apartment in the Arlington complex.
Police said the roommate did not know the gun was loaded and accidentally shot O'Connell at close range in the abdomen. A neighbor heard the gunfire and came to the door.
The neighbor called 911, investigators said. Authorities found O'Connell lying on his back.
Other guns, which were not involved in the shooting, were in the apartment, police said. Investigators found two Glock handguns and a rifle.
Neighbor Stephanie Maxim, who saw the roommates an hour before the shooting, said they had served in the Marines together and O'Connell had moved into the apartment a few months ago. They were as close as brothers, she said.
"If they went out and one drank too much, the other wouldn't let him drive home," Maxim, 34, said. "They watched each other's back."
Maxim said O'Connell was an Oakland Community College student.
"I can't believe it," she said, standing on her steps nearly in tears looking at the apartment where her friend had been shot the day before. "It's so sad."
:banghead:
