The 19-year-old Tampa man accused of shooting a teen did so on a dare thinking the gun was not loaded, according to what authorities say he told them.
Jose Antonio Cruz Jr. is scheduled to be in court Monday on manslaughter charges after the shooting death of 14-year-old Stephenn Santiago Grey on Saturday outside a home in the 4600 block of East Whiteway Drive.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Cruz told police he did not think the .357 revolver the two were playing with was loaded. Cruz said the shooting was an accident.
Grey was shot in the chest and later died.
The two were in a car in the driveway when Grey jokingly dared Cruz to shoot him.
Grey was a sixth-grade student at North Tampa Alternative. Grief counselors were at the school Monday.
The case remains under investigation.