Saskatoon teen gets 18-month sentence for accidental shooting of best friend

WATCH: A Saskatoon teen boy who was pretending to be a gangster when he accidentally shot and killed his best friend was sentenced to 18 months on Wednesday.

A Saskatoon teen boy who was pretending to be a gangster when he accidentally shot and killed his best friend, left the courthouse in handcuffs on Wednesday.

The 15-year-old, who was 13 when he shot his 12-year-old friend and can’t be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, pleaded guilty to using a firearm to commit criminal negligence causing death.

He was handed an 18-month sentence that will be partially served in the community, under supervision.

“While I accept he did not intend to shoot his friend, playing and posing with a firearm while under the influence of alcohol was clearly risky behaviour and harm was reasonably foreseeable,” Judge Lisa Watson ruled.

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The shooting happened at a home on the 1000 block of Matheson Drive on Feb. 19, 2024, with a gun obtained by his sister, court heard.

Three boys were drinking vodka and passing around a rifle, according to an agreed statement of facts.

The kids were posing with the gun, pretending to be gangsters, posting the pictures to social media.

A video recorded just 50 seconds prior to the 911 call showed the teen pointing the gun at his friend. He believed the safety was on, court heard.

Crown wanted maximum youth sentence

The Crown pushed for a three-year sentence, the maximum youth sentence for this offence. Watson sided with the defence.

“He is not a safety risk to others and has demonstrated a commitment to complying with supervision,” Watson said.

The first 12 months of the teen’s sentence will be served in open custody (a group-home style facility). The following six months will be spent in the community, under court-ordered conditions.

“After he serves this sentence, he will forever live with the knowledge that he caused his friend’s death. This is a heavy burden,” Watson said.

Probation conditions include no contact with the victim’s family or the other teen boy involved.

Watson closed the hearing with a message to the teen:

“I expect you to do something with your life. I expect you to move forward in a positive way, and I very much hope not to ever see you back in this court building.”

With files from The Canadian Press