Teen shoots pal, 17, dead after trying to fix her jammed gun during target practice in backyard

A 17-YEAR-OLD fatally shot his friend in the head while trying to unjam her pistol after they met for target practice in a backyard, it has been reported.

Candace Chrzan, 17, was killed in what police described as a “horrible accident” on March 30 in Mount Zion, Georgia.

The alleged shooter has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after the tragic incident that occurred when four friends were at a home shooting bottles in a backyard.

Candace was using a .22-caliber pistol before she reportedly handed it to the 17-year-old boy when it jammed.

As he attempted to fix the gun, it fired, and hit the high school senior in the head, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ashely Hulsey.

The weapon belonged to the family of the young man, she added.

Candace sadly died at the scene, police said.

The shooter turned himself in after gunning down his friend and was charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct, and the possession of a firearm under the age of 18.

The police spokesperson explained, “When investigators arrived on-scene, he was physically and visibly distraught and upset.

“He did try to render aid to her unsuccessfully. So, his life is changed forever because he took another life, and he’ll never be able to take that back.”

A second teenager, aged 18, was also arrested in the wake of the shooting after he allegedly made threats to harm the boy who shot Candace on Snapchat while holding a gun.

Deputies were alerted to the disturbing social media footage of the armed 18-year-old and have handed him a felony charge of making terroristic threats, according to NBC.

Candace’s heartbroken family and friends have shared poignant tributes to the tragic teen, who was due to graduate from Mount Zion High School in just a few weeks – and had already picked up her cap and gown.

According to WXIA-TV, Candace was raised by her grandparents, who “will not rest easy until justice is served”.

Close family friend Tiffany Cantrell said, “I don’t think the family will ever realize what an impression this beautiful young lady made on this community and how bad we’re all hurting.

“Candace was (trained) in martial arts and Candace was also very trained in gun safety. Her grandfather, being a very protective grandfather, has taught Candace how to take care of herself in any means necessary.

“So that’s why some of the story of the gun jamming is really not making sense,” she explained.

“It’s a heartbreaking situation and it’s going to be hard, but I hope that everyone in some kind of way can find some forgiveness in their heart no matter what.

“That family has to understand that our side of the situation, with Candace’s family, they have a permanent loss. That young man’s family has a temporary separation.”

It comes after a worrying rise in minors across the US illegally operating firearms, often with fatal consequences.

Just last week, a 14-year-old boy was charged with murder after reportedly shooting 13-year-old Lucia Bremer as she walked home from school with a friend in a random attack in Virginia.

According to reports, Bremer and her friend did not know the suspect, and the friend ran to a nearby house for help, yelling “Gun! Gun!” right before the shooting.

The “dedicated athlete, bright mind, and kind soul” was shot multiple times in broad daylight before she tragically succumbed to her injuries in hospital.