ALTON, Ill. — Alton police have arrested and charged a man in the shooting death of a 17-year-old on New Year's Day.
Terrance Johnson, 18, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and obstructing justice in the teen's death.
Officers were called to an apartment on Woodview Court at around 8:30 Monday night for a report of a gunshot victim, according to a written statement from Alton Police Chief Jarrett Ford. When they arrived, they found 17-year-old Jaiden Dahl with a gunshot wound.
Dahl was taken to an area hospital and later flown to a St. Louis hospital for treatment, but he later died from his injuries.
Police said Dahl and the other people who were at the apartment at the time of the shooting knew each other.
According to charging documents, Johnson, Dahl and other people were "play shooting" each other by taking turns "dry firing" guns while pointing them at another person. Prosecutors said the group had at least five different guns and parts of another, including an "assault weapon."
When Johnson pointed a gun at Dahl and pulled the trigger, the gun went off, striking Dahl in the chest, prosecutors said. Johnson then hid the 9mm handgun used to shoot Dahl.
According to charging documents, Johnson admitted to police that the game went on for "some time" before Dahl was shot. He also admitted to having no training or education in how to safely handle guns.
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