YULEE, Fla. – A 26-year-old Jacksonville man is facing manslaughter charges after what deputies call a deadly accidental shooting that happened in Nassau County on Saturday night, according to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office.
According to an arrest report, Tyler Shepperd was visiting his friend in Yulee at a home on St. John Court. A witness told deputies that the friend was “carelessly handling” a handgun before handing it to Shepperd.
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Although the friend’s name was listed in the arrest report, News4JAX is choosing not to name the friend.
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When deputies spoke to Shepperd, he said his friend was also “mishandling” the gun and “dry fired” it, which is the act of pulling the trigger on an unloaded gun, before handing it to him.
Thinking it was not loaded, Shepperd pointed the gun at his friend and pulled the trigger, shooting him, the report said.
Shepperd called authorities and told them he accidentally shot his friend.
The friend was taken to the hospital, where he died.
NCSO determined the friend’s death was caused by Shepperd’s culpable negligence.
Shepperd was charged with manslaughter.