Florida Teen Dead - Accidental Shooting with an AR-15

Local news reports

Von Wright, Jr.

 COCOA, Florida -- Just after 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Brevard County Sheriff's deputies responded to 3648 Tomlin Drive in Cocoa, Florida for a call that a person had been shot at the residence. 

Upon arrival, deputies found 18-year-old Reginald Von Wright, Jr. of Cocoa unresponsive with an apparent gunshot wound to his chest.  Wright was airlifted to Holmes Regional Hospital in Melbourne, Florida where he succumbed to his injury. 

Investigators believe that Wright was accidentally shot by 25-year-old Steven Donte Speed who lives at the address where the shooting took place.  According to evidence uncovered so far in the investigation, Speed was making repairs to an AR-15 rifle while seated in the living room of the residence.  As he was working on the firearm, the victim entered the residence and sat on the couch across from Speed.  As Speed continued handling the weapon, it discharged once, with the bullet striking the victim in the chest.  Speed immediately called out to other persons in the residence to call 911. Sheriff's spokesperson Major Tod Googyear stated in a release that Speed provided this information during interviews conducted by agents from the Homicide Unit of the Sheriff’s Office.

Speed

The investigation into the incident is ongoing with a detailed examination being conducted at the residence by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Unit.  An autopsy is scheduled to take place this morning at the Brevard County Medical Examiner’s office. 

Once completed, the results of the investigation will be forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office in order to determine if any charges are applicable in this case.