FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: August 27, 2022                                                  TIME: 7:01 p.m.

PIO# 22-08-10                                                               WPBPD# 20220013387

A 25-year-old man from Lake Worth died after being shot by a longtime friend who thought a handgun was empty.

Just after 7 p.m. Saturday night, a 911 call reported a person shot at Emerald Isle apartments in the 4200 block of San Marino Boulevard. First-arriving officers on the scene found the victim, 25, name withheld (Marsy’s Law), on the ground outside the apartment building. He was pronounced dead by West Palm Beach Fire Department firefighter/paramedics.

Investigators have determined that a group of six friends – four men and two women, were in the living room of the one-bedroom apartment at the time of the shooting. According to witnesses, the 25-year-old man who fired the gun admitted he loaded a magazine and charged the weapon, but forgot it was loaded and though he was “dry-firing” the handgun when it discharged and struck the victim. The victim was able to walk out of the second-floor apartment and down the stairs before collapsing.

The investigation is ongoing however, no charges have been filed at this time.

This release by:

Mike Jachles/PIO

8/28/22 2230