The boys, skipping school, thought the .357-caliber Magnum was unloaded when they began playing with it, authorities said.
By CHRIS TISCH
Published September 6, 2003
LARGO - A 14-year-old boy accidentally shot to death his 12-year-old friend Friday afternoon as they played with the older boy's father's gun.
Largo police said Louis J. Mevec, 14, shot Sean Caroline, 12, in the head as they played with a .357-caliber Magnum on Friday afternoon in Mevec's Whispering Palms apartment in Largo.
The older boy's father, Louis S. Mevec, had left the loaded gun under the couch in the living room. "A 2-year-old could have gotten it," said Detective Joe Coyle.
Coyle said Caroline died instantly from the gunshot wound.
The older boy called 911.
"He was screaming to 911," Coyle said. "He was out there waving the officers down saying that he shot his friend."
Caroline was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the boys, who attend Largo Middle School, were skipping school at the time. Three other youngsters, a 10-year-old and two 11-year-olds, also were in the apartment at the time of the shooting, Coyle said.
Detectives were interviewing Louis S. Mevec, the father, on Friday evening, but had not determined whether he will face charges in connection with Caroline's death.
Under Florida law, a person who leaves or stores a loaded gun within reach of a child can be prosecuted for culpable negligence if the weapon injures or kills someone, said Bruce Bartlett, chief assistant state attorney.
"If an adult leaves a loaded firearm in a place where a minor has access to it and the minor does something with the gun to themselves or someone else, that adult can face potential criminal charges," Bartlett said. "The statute was designed to inhibit people from leaving loaded guns where juveniles have access to them."
The charge is a third-degree felony carrying an maximum sentence of five years.
The 14-year-old Mevec also could be charged with manslaughter, Bartlett said.
Detective Keith Barton said police had no plans to make any arrests Friday night, but will continue investigating through the weekend.
"Right now we're still investigating, and I don't know what's going to happen," Barton said.
Detectives said the father was at work when the shooting happened. His son knew that the gun was kept under the couch. Another handgun, this one unloaded, was kept in the bedroom, Barton said.
Barton said the boys believed the .357 was unloaded when they began playing with it. Barton said the father told him that he had planned to secure the gun.
"He never got around to securing it," Barton said. "Everyone's just devastated."
