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Gwinnett teen killed after gun accidentally fired; friend charged

Emergency lights.
Emergency lights.
By Amanda C. Coyne
Oct 31, 2019

A 13-year-old was killed Wednesday night when a gun accidentally fired while he and a friend were “playing” with it, Gwinnett County police said.

Jair Gonzalez, 13, died at a hospital Wednesday night after being shot in his apartment. Police did not say where in the body Gonzalez was shot.

MORE | Boy, 14, arrested after friend is accidentally shot in DeKalb basement

READ | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers delays dock fee increases affecting Georgia lakes

Gonzalez and his 14-year-old friend were at Gonzalez’s home in Duluth around 5:30 p.m. and were “playing” with guns that they found in the apartment, according to police. At some point, the gun the 14-year-old was playing with accidentally discharged and 911 was called. When police arrived, Gonzalez was alive but “bleeding heavily,” police said. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

The 14-year-old is being charged as a juvenile with reckless conduct. The police department is not releasing the boy’s name because he is a juvenile.

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Police are still investigating what happened.

About the Author

Amanda Coyne is a hyperlocal reporter for the AJC, covering Gwinnett County.

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