Charges Won't Be Filed In Teen's Death From Arrow

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities said Thursday that criminal charges won't be filed against the teen that shot and killed his best friend with a bow-and-arrow, calling the incident an accident.

Dakota County prosecutors determined in an investigation of the incident that the boy who shot and killed Spencer Swanson was trying to get the arrow out of the bow when his fingers lost control and the bow discharged. The incident happened at about 6:25 p.m. on Oct. 13, 2012, in Chaska as Swanson and the boy were about to head to a community center to play basketball. The boy wanted to show Spencer his bow, which had just been restrung.

It had a blunt tip less, arrow that was pointed at a tree. Spencer was riding his bike down a hill towards his friend when the boy tried to take the arrow out of the bow. The boy's hands slipped and the arrow accidentally shot and hit Spencer in the forehead from 94 feet away. Spencer was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he died from his injuries two days later.

Authorities say no drugs or alcohol were a factor in the incident and that there was no clear sign the boy had intended to injure Swanson.