PHOENIX, AZ – A shooting in a Phoenix apartment complex led to the tragic death of a 13-year-old boy, Earlric Reynolds, marking yet another case of accidental shooting involving young adults. The suspect, 18-year-old Adolfo Villalva has been arrested.
The disturbing incident took place on Sunday afternoon when Phoenix police responded to an emergency call. On arrival, they found Reynolds in the apartment complex parking lot with a severe gunshot wound. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
According to the police, Villalva confessed to shooting Reynolds by accident. Along with two additional witnesses, Villalva moved the injured boy to the parking lot following the shooting. Officers found the gun, a 9mm Ruger, hidden under a water bucket in the backyard after Villalva revealed its location. Police detained Villalva shortly after.
During his interview, Villalva stated that he and Reynolds had been playing with a Nerf gun. Mistakenly, as he reached to pull the trigger on the toy gun, he fired the actual handgun he had also been wielding. He added that the gun belonged to his mother, which he had brought from her Buick for the sheer cool factor.
The unfortunate incident has led to the arrest of the 18-year-old on several felony charges, including manslaughter, weapons misconduct, and evidence tampering. Prior convictions for drug possession and aggravated robbery were discovered in Villalva’s records, disqualifying him as a legal firearm carrier.
The unsettling event has left residents of the apartment complex in shock, with some expressing their concerns about their safety. While residents grapple with the tragic incident, the details of the case continue to be examined.