Post by WaTcHeR on Apr 10, 2006 10:10:00 GMT -5
04/10/2006 - UPLAND, Calif. - A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy was arrested in connection with the accidental shooting death of his friend following a night of drinking, authorities said.
Deputy Chris Sullivan, 24, was booked at the West Valley Detention Center for investigation of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Cesar Valdez, said Upland police Sgt. Alan Ansara. The shooting occurred about 6:40 a.m. Sunday outside the home of Sullivan's parents.
Sullivan, a U.S. Marine Corps Reservist, had just returned from Iraq on Thursday, Ansara said. He and Valdez, 24, had gone back to his parents' home following a night out drinking, the sergeant said.
"He was carrying his gun in his hand back into the house," Ansara said. "They were just playing around, and somehow the gun ended up pointed toward the victim's head, and the trigger was pulled, and he was struck once."
Valdez, who also was in the Marine Corps Reserves, was pronounced dead at a local hospital, officials said.
Neighbor Howard Johnson told KCAL-TV that he saw Sullivan wandering around the front yard after the shooting.
"He looked like he was in shock, just wandering around in a daze," Johnson said.
Ansara said he did not known if the men were drunk at the time of the shooting.
Bail information for Sullivan was not immediately available.
Deputy Chris Sullivan, 24, was booked at the West Valley Detention Center for investigation of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Cesar Valdez, said Upland police Sgt. Alan Ansara. The shooting occurred about 6:40 a.m. Sunday outside the home of Sullivan's parents.
Sullivan, a U.S. Marine Corps Reservist, had just returned from Iraq on Thursday, Ansara said. He and Valdez, 24, had gone back to his parents' home following a night out drinking, the sergeant said.
"He was carrying his gun in his hand back into the house," Ansara said. "They were just playing around, and somehow the gun ended up pointed toward the victim's head, and the trigger was pulled, and he was struck once."
Valdez, who also was in the Marine Corps Reserves, was pronounced dead at a local hospital, officials said.
Neighbor Howard Johnson told KCAL-TV that he saw Sullivan wandering around the front yard after the shooting.
"He looked like he was in shock, just wandering around in a daze," Johnson said.
Ansara said he did not known if the men were drunk at the time of the shooting.
Bail information for Sullivan was not immediately available.