Police: Maitland teens were 'play fighting' with gun before shooting; 16-year-old arrested

1 hurt in Maitland shooting, police say

A teen is in the hospital after being shot at a Maitland apartment complex.

MAITLAND, Fla. - A 16-year-old boy is facing charges of attempted manslaughter and possession of a firearm after his 15-year-old friend was shot while the two were reportedly "play fighting" in a car, according to the Maitland Police Department.

Police said the 15-year-old was shot in the chest and underwent surgery over the weekend. He was listed in critical condition on Monday, police said.

What we know:

The shooting was reported Saturday night, April 11, in the parking lot of The Grand Reserve at Maitland Park Apartments, according to the Maitland Police Department.

According to the arrest affidavit, four people were hanging out inside a Honda Civic in the parking lot of the apartment complex. The 16-year-old suspect was playing with a gun inside the vehicle and reportedly pointed it towards at least two of the people– the 15-year-old victim in the front passenger seat and another person who was in the back of the vehicle.

The person in the back of the vehicle told police that he left the car after the gun was pointed at him because he was scared and did not know if it was loaded or not. Moments later, he heard a "loud bang," the report said.

Inside the vehicle, another witness said the 16-year-old pointed the gun at the 15-year-old, who would push the barrel away, moving the gun away from him. "According to (the witness), both the defendant and the victim were laughing prior to the firearm being discharged. (The witness) recalled one shot being fired, but his ears were ringing," the report said.

Police said after the shooting, the 15-year-old fell out of the front part of the vehicle, holding his shoulder. Witnesses told police that after the shooting, the suspect threw the gun onto the ground, picked it up, and threw it onto the ground again.

Detectives found the gun – a handgun – in some bushes about 40 feet from the vehicle, the report said. They also noted one bullet hole and possible blood splatter on the front passenger seat. 

The suspect was arrested at the apartment complex and booked into jail on charges of attempted manslaughter and possession of a firearm. When asked what happened, the teenager reportedly said "I don't know."

FOX 35 is not naming the suspect due to his age.