LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — UPDATE JAN. 1 : Police have identified the teens that were killed on New Year's Eve
ORIGINAL STORY DEC. 31
Gwinnett County police are investigating what they are calling an accidental shooting that left two teens dead. The incident happened around 3:15 p.m. along Riverlanding Circle in Lawrenceville Monday afternoon.
Investigators told Channel 2's Tony Thomas that a group of teenage boys, ages 16-18, were playing in a makeshift wooden tree house or shed-type structure with a gun when the shooting happened.
Police said one teenage boy was shot inside the shed and then the others ran after the shooting. Investigators said the teen who had accidentally shot his friend then turned the gun on himself.
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"It appears that a group of four males were gathered in a makeshift shed. At some point, a gun was displayed. The gun was fired and one subject was struck. Then the men then ran from the shed. Two of the friends heard what they described as a pop and found who we believe was the initial shooter, deceased of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound," said Ashley Wilson with the Gwinnett Police Department.
Neighbors along the subdivision told Thomas they are frantically trying to figure out who the teens involved are and if they know them.
"You know, it's New Year's Eve and to have this happen so close to home, it's just really devastating. And now, we're just in a state of panic to know who these two children are. Are they children of our community where we can reach out to their families? So this was just really unexpected. Nothing like this ever (happened) in this neighborhood," one neighbor said, not identifying herself.
Andrew Tran told Channel 2's Matt Johnson he used to play in the same shed where the four teens were.
“I was shocked because just thinking about it, it could have been my friends,” he said.
Parents in the neighborhood said they're eager to find out what they can do next to help.
“Now, we're just in a state of panic to know who these two children are, and are they children of our community where we can reach out to their families?” Tran said.
A neighbor said none of the teenagers involved had any connection to the neighborhood.
Authorities told Thomas they will remain at the scene for several hours as they sort out everything that happened.
Cox Media Group
