JERSEY CITY -- A 19-year-old man was sentenced to five years in prison today for the reckless manslaughter of his best friend, whom he shot in the head in a Jersey City parking lot last year.

"There was drinking, there was smoking marijuana and they were doing other things," Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mark Nelson said at this morning's sentencing of of Jacob Pommerehn, who fatally shot Anthony Rios, 17, on Van Horne Street on Sept. 12. 2016.

Nelson said the two friends were "playing with two guns" before Rios was struck in the head, adding "This insanity of people having guns and playing around with guns. I don't know what else to say - it's insanity."

Pommerehn, who has no prior criminal record, was very remorseful and sat crying silently at the defense table through most of the hearing. He was originally charged with aggravated manslaughter but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.

Nelson said that after his arrest, Pommerehn posted bail and his father took him to a drug treatment facility. The judge recommended that he serve his sentence at a prison appropriate for his age and his substance abuse issues.

When Pommerehn made his first court appearance on the charges, his attorney said he is the son of a federal police officer and argued Rios' death was an "accident."

A spokesman for the United States Park Police, told The Jersey Journal Pommerehen's father is John Pommerehn, a police officer with the marine patrols unit.

Jacob Pommerehn's criminal complaint said the teen had a Beretta .09 handgun and Walther P22 .22 handgun at the time of the shooting. The Park Police spokesman said those model weapons were not issued through the department.

"I don't think that any reasonable person would think that Mr. Pommerehn did this on purpose," Nelson said. "He has absolutely no involvement in the justice system as a juvenile or an adult - he didn't pay his light rail ticket once... I would be very surprised if Mr. Pommerehn was ever involved in the justice system again."

Several of the victim's family members cried during the sentencing in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City. They chose not to comment.

Pommerehn must serve just over four years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

A third person with Rios and Pommerehn at the time of the shooting was not charged. The case was handled by Hudson County Assitant Prosecutor Andrew Macurdy.