Utah man fatally shoots Mormon missionary stepson, 18, in head and claims it was an accident
A Utah man who police believed shot his 18-year-old stepson by accident is revealed to have allegedly acted recklessly in gunning him down at close range in their home.
Authorities said Joseph Lee, 46, shot Mormon Haven Alexander McBride in the head at their $700,000 home in Riverton near Salt Lake City on Tuesday afternoon, while the shooter was teaching his daughter how to handle guns.
Riverton Police responded to the shooting and McBride was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
McBride had graduated from Mountain Ridge High School the week prior and was set to go on a mission trip with the Mormon church, according to a statement shared with ABC4 by the victim's aunt Rachel McBride.
Police initially described the shooting as 'accidental', but since charged Lee with manslaughter after home surveillance video captured the deadly incident.
Lee reportedly told cops he was showing his daughter two different guns, one that was loaded and one that was not, calling the unloaded weapon a 'dummy gun'.
He told police he accidentally picked up the loaded Glock 9mm and pulled the trigger when the weapon was pointed at McBride, who was sat opposite Lee.
Home security cameras allegedly showed Lee waiting several minutes after the shooting to perform CPR, according to Riverton Police Chief Shane Taylor.
The affidavit said police opted to charge Lee based on Utah code, which says the crime of manslaughter's committed when someone 'recklessly' causes the death of another.
Lee was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Wednesday.
Lee told cops he served in the Army as a Green Beret, with police later confirming that he had 'extensive training in the operation and safe handling of firearms'.
McBride's family remembered him as 'a kind, hardworking young man' who was 'a dedicated big brother to his siblings'.
McBride's aunt wrote: 'He was excited to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was looking forward to the rest of his life. We were excited to watch him live it. He was taken prematurely from this life.'
Lee's defense lawyer Craig Stanger called what happened 'just a sad situation'.
Stanger read the probable cause affidavit against his client and told KUTV it was what he 'expected': 'It's a situation where it's an unfortunate incident, but it's extremely reckless. It's just extremely reckless that he would have had the gun up in the direction of a person and actually pull the trigger.'
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