San Diego police confiscated several firearms from a Clairemont home after a man’s gun accidentally fired and killed his best friend, officials said.

Officers were investigating the shooting that took place around 1 a.m. Sunday at the home in the 4900-block of Gallatin Way in Northwest Clairemont.

The gun owner was showing his friend a gun when the gun dropped to the ground and fired, shooting the friend in the chest according to San Diego police.

Paramedics found 21-year-old Michael Nugent lying on a house’s front lawn and rushed him to a local hospital, said Lieutenant Mike Hastings.

Nugent died from his wounds Sunday morning.

Clarence Allen has lived next door to the family for almost 50 years.

“They’re a great family. The boys have never been in trouble,” Allen said. “It’s a shock that something like this could happen.”

Investigators questioned the victim’s friend and are looking into the shooting.

“It’s a tragedy that it happened to the other boy because they were best friends,” Allen said.

Allen said the home also serves as a day-care center during the day.

“I had no idea there was ever a gun in the home,” the neighbor said.



If you have information about the incident, call San Diego Police’s Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.