Queens, NY — A 15-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with manslaughter after allegedly shooting and killing his 14-year-old friend while showing off a stolen gun inside a Queens apartment, authorities said.
The tragic incident unfolded Wednesday afternoon at the Norman Towers apartment building in Jamaica, where police say Jamuri Mezar, 14, was shot in the head during what sources described as an accidental discharge.
According to law enforcement, the older teen brought a stolen 9mm firearm to Mezar’s home and began flashing the weapon to others present. The gun went off, fatally striking Mezar.
Mezar was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sources say the suspect fled the apartment immediately after the shooting, leaving the gun behind next to Mezar’s body. This initially led investigators to believe the fatal wound may have been self-inflicted.
Both teenagers were reportedly members of the B4L gang, short for “Brothers for Life,” police sources said.
Several other teens were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting, the Daily News reported. One of them stayed behind to open the door for police when they arrived at the scene.
Neither of Mezar’s parents owned a gun, they told reporters.
The 15-year-old suspect was taken into custody Thursday morning and now faces charges of manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
The investigation is ongoing.
