An 18-year-old died after he was accidentally shot in Cocoa by a close friend and mentor, police said.According to investigators, Reginald Von Wright Jr. was shot by 25-year-old Steven Donte Speed as Speed was making repairs to his AR-15 rifle Monday.Police said Speed was seated in the living room of a home on Tomlin Drive when Wright sat on the couch across from Speed.As Speed continued to repair the gun, it discharged and a bullet struck Wright in the chest."He had no idea it would go off, and of course once it went off, and he realized he had shot his friend, he immediately ran to him and tried to administer aid," said Brevard County Sheriff's Maj. Tod Goodyear.Wright was airlifted to Holmes Regional Medical Center where he died.Speed was a mentor and father figure to the younger man, who lived just a couple blocks away.An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday morning.Once the findings of the investigation are complete, the State Attorney's Office will determine if any charges will be filed.To prove a criminal act, detectives would have to show a recklessness they say was not present.14277264

An 18-year-old died after he was accidentally shot in Cocoa by a close friend and mentor, police said.

According to investigators, Reginald Von Wright Jr. was shot by 25-year-old Steven Donte Speed as Speed was making repairs to his AR-15 rifle Monday.


Police said Speed was seated in the living room of a home on Tomlin Drive when Wright sat on the couch across from Speed.

As Speed continued to repair the gun, it discharged and a bullet struck Wright in the chest.

"He had no idea it would go off, and of course once it went off, and he realized he had shot his friend, he immediately ran to him and tried to administer aid," said Brevard County Sheriff's Maj. Tod Goodyear.

Wright was airlifted to Holmes Regional Medical Center where he died.

Speed was a mentor and father figure to the younger man, who lived just a couple blocks away.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Once the findings of the investigation are complete, the State Attorney's Office will determine if any charges will be filed.

To prove a criminal act, detectives would have to show a recklessness they say was not present.