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Boy, 15, Fatally Shot In Neck Identified

CENTER CITY, Minn. (WCCO) -- A 15-year-old boy was killed Thursday evening in an apparently accidental shooting in Chisago County.

According to the sheriff's office, William Showers was handling a .22-caliber rifle at his home along 347th Street in Lindstrom, Minn. with a 16-year-old friend.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Steve Murphy Reports

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Somehow, the 16-year-old fired the gun and the struck Showers in the neck.

The 16-year-old called 911. Authorities arrived to find Showers unresponsive and bleeding. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 16-year-old friend, who was not identified, was questioned by police and then released to his parents.

"It's a tragic event all around," said Chisago County Sheriff Rick Duncan, "not only for the 15-year-old victim and their family but also the 16-year-old's family."

Duncan said there are tragic lessons to be learned.

"Parents aren't home and kids are playing around with that gun," he said.

The Chisago County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the incident. Charges are not anticipated.

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