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Teen dies in Russian roulette game
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - A 14-year-old boy died Sunday after shooting himself while playing Russian roulette, according to police.
Evan Below, 14, shot himself in the head around 8 p.m. Saturday while playing with a .38-caliber revolver in the kitchen of a friend's house.
Evan's mother, Peggy Below, said she heard about what happened around 9 p.m. Saturday when she called the house to talk to her son and a policeman answered.
She said Evan had training and experience handling guns.
"My son is dead. And it bothers me that someone didn't have the responsibility to lock up their gun," she said.
Lt. Jack Branson said another boy, 15, handed the gun to Evan just before he shot himself. The other boy allegedly got the gun from under his mother's bedroom.
Joyce Leforte, the other boy's mother, said Monday that the gun was in her closet and was not locked up.
"We're very, very sorry for Evan's family," she said, sobbing. "We're there if they need us. I know what she's going through and our prayers are with the family."
Leforte and her husband, who own the gun, were bowling at the time of the shooting. No charges had been filed as of Monday.
"This has been very hard on both families," Branson said.
Police said two other boys were in the home, as was a 23-year-old man, who was in another part of the house and did not see what happened.
District Attorney Kevin Meenan said he will review the case after police finish their investigation.
"At this point I can't speculate about what charges or statutes, if any, are appropriate," he said. "The Police Department has orally briefed us on the case and they are in the process now of completing their investigation."
Walt Wilcox, principal of Dean Morgan Junior High School where Evan went to school, said in a prepared statement that counselors were at the school and would be available as long as they are needed. He urged parents to talk with their children about what happened.
"Please do not assume that because your son or daughter was not closely acquainted with Evan that they are not affected," he said.
He said several discussions have occurred on school grounds regarding safety, being a teenager and making good decisions.
"Nothing can change what happened; however, through discussion and clarification with parents and students, hopefully a tragedy like this can be avoided in the future," he said.
Funeral services for Evan were scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
In Russian roulette, one chamber of a revolver is loaded and a player risks his life to see if the bullet will fire when the trigger is pulled.
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - A 14-year-old boy died Sunday after shooting himself while playing Russian roulette, according to police.
Evan Below, 14, shot himself in the head around 8 p.m. Saturday while playing with a .38-caliber revolver in the kitchen of a friend's house.
Evan's mother, Peggy Below, said she heard about what happened around 9 p.m. Saturday when she called the house to talk to her son and a policeman answered.
She said Evan had training and experience handling guns.
"My son is dead. And it bothers me that someone didn't have the responsibility to lock up their gun," she said.
Lt. Jack Branson said another boy, 15, handed the gun to Evan just before he shot himself. The other boy allegedly got the gun from under his mother's bedroom.
Joyce Leforte, the other boy's mother, said Monday that the gun was in her closet and was not locked up.
"We're very, very sorry for Evan's family," she said, sobbing. "We're there if they need us. I know what she's going through and our prayers are with the family."
Leforte and her husband, who own the gun, were bowling at the time of the shooting. No charges had been filed as of Monday.
"This has been very hard on both families," Branson said.
Police said two other boys were in the home, as was a 23-year-old man, who was in another part of the house and did not see what happened.
District Attorney Kevin Meenan said he will review the case after police finish their investigation.
"At this point I can't speculate about what charges or statutes, if any, are appropriate," he said. "The Police Department has orally briefed us on the case and they are in the process now of completing their investigation."
Walt Wilcox, principal of Dean Morgan Junior High School where Evan went to school, said in a prepared statement that counselors were at the school and would be available as long as they are needed. He urged parents to talk with their children about what happened.
"Please do not assume that because your son or daughter was not closely acquainted with Evan that they are not affected," he said.
He said several discussions have occurred on school grounds regarding safety, being a teenager and making good decisions.
"Nothing can change what happened; however, through discussion and clarification with parents and students, hopefully a tragedy like this can be avoided in the future," he said.
Funeral services for Evan were scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
In Russian roulette, one chamber of a revolver is loaded and a player risks his life to see if the bullet will fire when the trigger is pulled.
