THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, January 2, 1995 TAG: 9501020058
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
A 16-year-old boy was killed Saturday after showing off a handgun to a 12-year-old friend.
Alonzo D. Francisco of the 5600 block of Hearth Drive suffered a single shot to the neck while he and the friend were ``goofing off'' with the small-caliber handgun, police spokesman Lou Thurston said.
The name of the younger boy was not released.
Francisco's death came a year after a similar accidental death of another Virginia Beach teenager.
Saturday's incident remains under investigation, Thurston said, although all evidence thus far shows the incident was an accident.
If so, no charges would be filed, he said.
Thurston said the incident occurred about 10 p.m.
The house, with Christmas lights in the bushes outside and a 4-foot, lighted Santa Claus on the lawn, was the scene of a New Year's Eve party.
``There were bundles of people,'' Thurston said, describing the event as a ``family-style party.''
The two boys left the party and went to Francisco's room, where he pulled out a small-caliber handgun.
``The gun apparently belonged to him,'' Thurston said. ``They were goofing off with it, back and forth, when all of a sudden it went off.''
Paramedics took Francisco to the Trauma Center at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Last New Year's Eve, a 14-year-old boy died after being shot in the head a day earlier by a 13-year-old who was playing with a handgun.
No adults were home when that shooting occurred in the 1500 block of Southern Blvd.
KEYWORDS: SHOOTING JUVENILE FATALITY ACCIDENT by CNB