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19-year-old accidentally shoots, kills self

The young cook and some friends were toying with a handgun when it went off, deputies say.

By JOSE CARDENAS
Published December 9, 2005

LARGO - Although Jeremy McCroskey never graduated from high school, he appeared to have found his passion in cooking professionally.

The 19-year-old planned to attend a culinary school in Orlando, said his mother, Terry Domagala, 43.

He was a promising young cook who seemed destined for management, said Brett Hull-Ryde, one of his bosses at Lee Roy Selmon's in Largo.

That bright future is why his family and friends were shocked after McCroskey died Thursday after apparently accidentally shooting himself at a friend's home.

McCroskey was shot as he handled a gun he thought was unloaded, Pinellas County sheriff's officials said.

"He was just my baby," Domagala said of her youngest son at her family's condominium off Starkey Road. "He had a heart bigger than anyone I know."

McCroskey and two friends - Dennis Due, 22, and Jamel Hamden, 31 - arrived at the home of their friend, Scott Norris, 30, on Thursday a bit after midnight, sheriff's officials said. In the home at 3734 138th Ave. N, the four began to drink.

About 3:30 a.m., the four were playfully assembling and disassembling a Glock 19 handgun, sheriff's spokesman Mac McMullen said. The four were familiar with the gun, which Norris owned, because they had gone out and shot it.

The gun discharged while in the hands of McCroskey, who apparently thought it was unloaded because the magazine was not in it.

"It's obviously an unfortunate set of circumstances," said McMullen, adding that investigators did not think the incident was suspicious, though the medical examiner would make a final ruling.

McCroskey attended Pinellas Park High School, his family said.

He lived with his mother and three older brothers: Tom Wiegand, Bryan Wiegand and Matthew McCroskey.

Although McCroskey was the youngest, he was the one who would stay up late talking with his brothers about what was on their minds, the one who ran out when a friend needed someone to talk to.

"He always seemed to know just what you needed - a hug," his mother said.

"He just enjoyed the company of people, as opposed to activities," Tom Wiegand said.

He had befriended Norris recently, and the two were close, his family said.

Hull-Ryde said McCroskey came to interview four times as the restaurant at East Bay and Keene Road was due to open in July.

"I just couldn't find a reason to say, "No, you can't have the job,"' Hull-Ryde said. "He had a great attitude and a smile. When somebody sincerely believes in themselves, it just shows: "Just give me a try and see what I can do."'

McCroskey started out preparing desserts, but every month he seemed to learn more, stepping up to more elaborate and more expensive items on the menu, his bosses said. In October, he was the Employee of the Month.

He brought the same warmth he had for his family and friends to work.

"He was fun-loving, man, good at heart, somebody you want as your friend," said waiter Cliffe Crosse, 35.

"He would always go out of his way to help everybody, which is really a rare quality," said bartender Heather Peters, 20.

[Last modified December 9, 2005, 01:19:17]