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Police: 1 dead after Florida teens take turns shooting each other

Joshua Vining and Colton Whitler, both 17, who were arrested Thursday in connection with the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Christopher Leroy Broad Jr. (Belleview Police Department)

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A Florida teen was fatally wounded while he and a friend took turns wearing body armor and shooting each other, police said.

Christopher Leroy Broad, 15, died the evening of April 3 after being rushed to a hospital, according to police in Belleview, a community about 60 miles (95 kilometers) northwest of Orlando.

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Following the teen's death, investigators determined that Broad and a 17-year-old had been taking turns shooting at each other while wearing a vest which contained a form of body armor, a police news release said. The 17-year-old shot at Broad while he was wearing the vest, and Broad was hit, officials said.

The 17-year-old was arrested Thursday and he has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child with a firearm.

Police didn't say what kind of gun was being used or who owned it.

A 16-year-old boy who witnessed the shooting initially lied to police about what had happened, according to authorities. They said the boy has been charged with providing false information to law enforcement.

Both teens have been charged as adults.


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