A South Carolina woman who has custody over her 15-year-old family member was arrested after authorities claimed the teen fatally shot a friend in the head.
The shooting was accidental, according to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office.
Davina Jill Browne, of Walhalla, was arrested on Friday, October 9, on a charge of unlawfully placing a child at risk of harm, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Browne, 33, allegedly put her 15-year-old relative at risk by letting him have access to a 9mm Taurus handgun.
“Browne did have knowledge that the 15 year old had the gun and did not have proper preventative measures in place, according to investigators,” the sheriff’s office said.
The teen was arrested on an involuntary manslaughter charge on Thursday, October 8, after he accidentally shot and killed his friend with the firearm that morning, according to the sheriff’s office, which didn’t identify him by name due to his age.
The fatal shooting unfolded inside the teen’s bedroom at a Walhalla home, where the gun was underneath a pillow, according to authorities.
When the teen retrieved the gun, the weapon went off and struck his friend, another teenager, the sheriff’s office said.
The friend was taken to a hospital and ultimately died, according to authorities.
He was identified as Thaddaeus Justice Terezakis, 15, per WHNS-TV. His death was ruled a homicide following an autopsy.
Terezakis and Browne’s 15-year-old relative have ties to the School District of Oconee County, according to the TV station, which reported one teen was a former student while the other is a current student.
“Our hearts are breaking for the young people and families involved in today’s events and in a close-knit community like ours, a tragedy like this reaches far beyond those directly involved. It touches our schools, families, and neighbors in deeply personal ways,” the district said in a statement shared with WHNS-TV. “Our hearts remain with everyone impacted, and our focus now is on supporting our students, staff, and families as we navigate this difficult time together.”
Information on whether Browne had retained legal counsel wasn’t immediately available.
The sheriff’s office didn’t specify the direct relation between her and the teen in her custody.
