Teen Arrested for Role in Friend’s Death

By Amy Teeple

Published on August 30, 2006

Jorge Luis Barraza, 14, was killed Saturday after being shot by his friend. The friend, 16, whose name has not been released, claimed he did not know the gun was loaded.

On the day of the shooting, someone gave the 16-year-old a semiautomatic pistol to temporarily hold on to. Later, the teenager and Barraza were sitting in a parked car with two other friends. After one friend removed the clip from the gun, the 16-year-old pointed it at Barraza and pulled the trigger. A bullet in the gun’s chamber discharged and struck Barraza in the head.

After the shooting, the boys in the car attempted to call 911 from a mobile phone, but could not get through. When searching for help, they found other friends who took Barraza to Highland Hospital where he died at 9:06 p.m.

Originally, the boys in the car tried to tell police that Barraza was shot by gang members. They told the truth when their story did not hold up.

The 16-year-old admitted to shooting Barazza, but stated it was an accident.

The Alameda County district attorney’s office has not yet decided whether to file charges against the 16-year-old.

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