Man Says Fatal Shooting of 14-Year-Old Was a Mistake: Police

Editor's Note: Previous versions of this report stated that the teen involved was dead, based on information from the Fort Worth Police Department that the boy "died from a single gun shot wound." At 11:30 a.m. Friday Fort Worth police notified the media that the 14-year-old survived the shooting. An email from Sgt. Kelly Peel apologized for the confusion. Shortly before 4 p.m. Friday, both police and the boy's family confirmed that he has now died.

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Fort Worth police said they received a call of a shooting just before midnight Friday in the 3000 block of Hanger Avenue.

A 24-year-old man told police he pulled out a handgun that he didn't know was loaded, and shot a 14-year-old boy just above the left eye.

Police said the man ran from the scene to a home on Avenue J, where he called police to report the shooting.

The boy was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he was treated for a single gunshot wound to the head.

Neighbors said they're shocked.

"It's sad, because he's young. I mean, why are they playing with a gun in the first place? The 24-year-old should know that," said Marina Sidon.

The man is in police custody, where he is being questioned by detectives.

Police said the man and the boy were acquaintances, but not close friends. Neither of them lived at the house where the shooting happened; they were just there with friends.

The boy's identity has not been released.

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