An 18-year-old man appeared in court Wednesday for the fatal shooting of another teenager in Dighton, Massachusetts.
Joseph Medeiros was arraigned in Taunton District Court for the death of 17-year-old Michael Pacheco, who was shot and killed inside his home on Tuesday. Medeiros is charged with involuntary manslaughter, carrying an illegal firearm and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
He was ordered held Wednesday pending a dangerousness hearing on July 3.
Dighton police said they received a call for a medical emergency at 6:43 p.m. and responded to a home on the 400 block of Forest Street. There they found Pacheco suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest and rushed him to the hospital, where he later died.
A prosecutor said Medeiros, a friend of the victim, was at Pacheco's house when he thought he was "racking gun" and ended up pulling the trigger instead. Pacheco suffered a single gunshot to the chest.
At least three other friends were also in the home at the time. Pacheco's parents were away on vacation.
Medeiros first pulled out the firearm 20 minutes before the fatal shooting, according to the prosecutor. He was illegally in possession of a 9mm Glock, officials said.
According to court paperwork, Medeiros initially fled the scene and went home, but then traveled with his mother to the Dighton Police Station where he provided a voluntary statement saying that the shooting was an accident.
Police said the firearm was described as having recently been purchased and was allegedly stolen out of Brockton.
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David Tibbetts, Medeiros' attorney, said his client is "holding up as best as he can considering the circumstances."
Pacheco was a student at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School. The school district sent a notice to parents, students and staff saying that one of its students had fallen victim to violence and support staff would be available to help grieving students.
