Sandy MaloneBelleview, FL – A 16-year-old boy was killed last weekend and two other teens have been arrested after things went horribly wrong during a game where they took turns shooting at each other while wearing body armor.
The incident occurred at about 7 p.m. on April 3 at a residence in the 10400-block of SE 52nd Court, WKMG reported.
Police said responding officers found 16-year-old Christopher Leroy Broad Jr. suffering from a gunshot wound.
Officers started rendering First Aid to Broad as soon as they arrived and continued until paramedics were on the scene, the Ocala StarBanner reported.
Broad was transported to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital for treatment but later died, WKMG reported.
A second teen was transported to the hospital for a panic attack, WCJB reported.
Investigators determined that Broad and two other friends – 17-year-olds Joshua Vining and Colton Whitler – were playing a game that involved one of the boys wearing a vest that had “some form of body armor” while the other two boys shot guns at him.
Police said Vining fatally shot Broad as they played the game, WKMG reported.
Authorities have not released any information about where Broad was shot or how many times he was shot, the Ocala StarBanner reported.
Police also have not released any information about what kind of weapon was used.
Officials said Whitler initially tried to mislead investigators about what had happened, WKMG reported.
Authorities have not said how many people were present in the home when Broad was shot.
Police said Whitler was the first witness interviewed and he gave detective false information about the shooting and the shooter, according to WKMG.
Officers arrested Vining and charged him with aggravated manslaughter of a child with a firearm.
Whitler was also arrested, accused of providing false information to law enforcement officers, WKMG reported.
Police said both Vining and Whitler were being charged as adults.
It was the first homicide in Belleview in five years, according to the Ocala StarBanner.
Holly Matkin
