SAPD: Teen involved in accidental shooting didn't know gun was loaded

15 year old expected to face criminal charges

SAN ANTONIO – A 15-year-old boy who was involved in an accidental shooting Tuesday morning that killed a 17-year-old boy at a Northwest Side apartment complex didn't realize the gun was loaded, police said.

According to a preliminary report, the suspect, whose name has not been released, was playing with the weapon at the time.

"The victim took the gun away from him," said San Antonio police Sgt. David Soto. "When he grabbed it, the gun went off." 

The victim, Diego Rodriguez, suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The suspect was frightened and ran away, police said.

After about an hour of searching for him, officers said they were approached by two men who handed them a gun and told them where to find the suspect.

Drevonte King told KSAT 12 News that he and his brother were the men who gave police the weapon. King said the teenage suspect barged into his apartment in the 3600 block of Callaghan Road, visibly upset about what had happened.

"He was, like, 'I shot somebody! I shot somebody!" King said. "He said,'I don't know what to do.' So he goes to the bathroom and tries to put the bullets in the toilet. He was scared. You could tell in his eyes that he didn't want to come out. He didn't want to talk to nobody. But me and my brother knew what was best for him."

On his way to talk to police, King said he began to worry whether he and his brother might be walking into trouble. He said he wasn't taking any chances on police mistaking him for the suspect.

"We get on our knees because a lot of black people are being killed, so black lives matter to me," he said. "We came and did that, got on the ground and gave them the gun."

Officers entered King's apartment and arrested the teen.  Although police said the shooting appears to have been accidental, criminal charges are expected against the teen.


About the Author:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.