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TOOELE — A Tooele man faces criminal charges after police say he stole his father's gun and then gave it to a friend who accidentally shot another friend with it.
Chase Edward Jones, 18, was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with theft by receiving stolen property, a second-degree felony; obstructing justice, a third-degree felony; and providing a handgun to a minor, a class B misdemeanor.
The investigation began on Jan. 23 when Tooele police were called to a local hospital on a report of a 17-year-old boy who had been shot in the chest. The boy was treated for his injuries and has since been released from the hospital.
When detectives said they learned Jones was present during the shooting, they attempted to question him. But Jones "lied about the facts surrounding the shooting and also about how the shooter acquired the handgun. When confronted with other evidence, (Jones) admitted to lying about the facts surrounding the shooting and the manner in which the handgun was acquired," according to charging documents.
Jones told police he had stolen the gun from his father about two months earlier and then gave it to a 17-year-old friend to hold onto, said Tooele police Cpl. Colbey Bentley. Then on Jan. 23, the two went to the victim's house and brought the gun with them.
While in a bedroom, the 17-year-old who had been keeping the gun pointed it at the other 17-year-old boy and a shot was accidentally fired, Bentley said, striking the teen in the right side of his chest.
Bentley said there was no evidence to suggest the shooting was intentional. The boy accused of pulling the trigger was charged in juvenile court with illegal discharge of a firearm and possession of a handgun by a minor, according to police.
