Philadelphia

Teen Accidentally Shoots, Kills Friend While Playing With Guns in Basement, Police Say

“At this time it’s looking like that the juveniles were handling at least two handguns in the basement of the property when one of the guns fired, striking the 17-year-old in his stomach"

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A teenager died after he was accidentally shot while two of his friends were playing with guns inside a Philadelphia home, police said.

The 17-year-old boy -- later identified by police as Kyleek Williams who lived on West Cheltenham Avenue -- was visiting another 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl inside the basement of a home on the 6000 block of North American Street in the city's Olney neighborhood at 7:48 p.m., according to investigators.

Police believe two of the teens were playing with at least two handguns when one of them accidentally fired at least one of the weapons. Williams was then shot in the right side of his abdomen.

“At this time it’s looking like the juveniles were handling at least two handguns in the basement of the property when one of the guns fired, striking the 17-year-old in his stomach,” Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said. 

The teen boy, who was semi-conscious when police arrived, lost consciousness after he was taken to Einstein Hospital, according to Small. He died at the hospital Wednesday morning, police said Thursday.

Small said the other teen boy and the teen girl were both cooperating with the investigation and are being interviewed, along with the mother of one of the teens and a family member.

Police found the two handguns inside the basement and plan on processing the entire scene during a search warrant.

On Thursday, police said a suspect is in custody.

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