Teens involved in Meridian shooting were friends

A 15-year-old boy died in a Meridian residence Saturday night after reportedly getting shot by another teenager, according to Meridian Police Department.

David Provencio, 18, of Meridian, who police believe shot the victim, was charged with involuntary manslaughter. The two were friends. The gun belonged to Provencio, according to police.

Provencio was in a bedroom with several other people, drinking and smoking marijuana, at the victim’s residence on the 2300 block of East Franklin Road. The group then took out two handguns, police said.

Provencio reportedly thought the handgun was not loaded when he pointed it at the 15-year-old and pulled the trigger, according to MPD.

The boy sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The incident was initially called in as a suicide, but after questioning, police arrested and charged with the shooting, according to MPD.

Two other adults were in the residence at the time of the incident along with several children, according to police.

Provencio could face up to $10,000 in fines and up to 10 years in prison under the current charge.

The shooting is similar to a shooting that took place in Caldwell in March in which a boy died. Officials believe the boy was handling a stolen gun at a friend’s home when the gun went off. Read that story at IdahoStatesman.com.

This story was originally published October 18, 2015 at 6:40 PM with the headline "Teens involved in Meridian shooting were friends."