MANATEE - An 18-year-old man was flown to a St. Petersburg hospital with life-threatening injuries, after being shot about 9:45 a.m. today. According to David Bristow, spokesman for the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Francisco Vazquez was lying in the lower bed of a bunk bed with a 16-year-old girl, in a bedroom of a house in the 3700 block of Seventh Avenue West. As Kyle Bolles, 19, was removing a .22-caliber rifle from the upper bed, the gun went off and struck the 18-year-old. "It appears the three teens were just hanging out," Bristow said. "We're still investigating if it was indeed an accidental shooting." The shooting victim was placed into the ambulance with his head covered in bloodied bandages. Sheriff's officials said charges were pending against Bolles, who lives in the house. The shooting took place in a blue cottage in the quiet neighborhood near Manatee High School. Manatee High School, 902 33rd St. Court W., was placed on lockdown for 15 minutes at 10:15 a.m., a schools spokeswoman said. But the sheriff's office gave the principal an all-clear, and the lockdown was removed. This is the second time this week a local school has been placed on lockdown because of a nearby shooting. On Tuesday afternoon, Orange Ridge-Bullock Elementary School on 30th Avenue West was secured, after a man was shot on Fifth Street West, near campus. Authorities say the shooting of Herman Sylvester Howard, 33, who later died, may have been related to drugs. Are school was put on lockdown today, I thought it was another drug search.. but low and behold I find out Frany is dead.. Fucking accident my ass, the kid who shot him was on the fucking rifle squad at my highschool few years back... kid knew how to use a gun.. fuck Poor kid
that really sucks man but don't judge too harshly/quickly, accidents do happen... best of luck in dealing with this maybe smoke a few bowls in memory
Kyle disliked him, and the girl who was with him at the time isn't saying so it will be awhile before anyone finds out, but alot of folk's are saying it was no accident. He was pronounced braindead about an hour ago, then they pulled the plug
it is kind've curious that removing a gun form the top bunk could shoot someone in the bottom..... but again, you never know
damn. fucking st. pete is ridiculous with shootings, rapings, and robberies lately. I live in Tampa myself. It's getting bad around here.
death is the most constant thing on this planet. I hope you are doing okay, and I hope that his family is doing okay as well. The truth will out in the end, try not to harbor intense bad feelings, its not healthy. I am truly sorry.
I'm really sorry to hear that. I've never lost a young person who was so close to me. Time heals all wounds but I wish you did not have to suffer in the mean time.
