Joke With Rifle Turns Deadly For Friends: Pinellas Sheriff

PALM HARBOR, FL — A Clearwater man died after he was accidentally shot by a friend Thursday night in Palm Harbor.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to a home at 3364 Brian Road in Palm Harbor at 7:48 p.m. and found Sean Cook, 26, of Oak Trail South in Clearwater with a gunshot wound to the chest. Cook was taken to Mease Countryside Hospital where he died at 8:55 p.m.

After investigating, detectives arrested the resident of the home, Shea Michael Harkins, 26, and charged him with one count of manslaughter.

According to detectives, the two men were friends. Cook came Harkins' home to play video games. During the visit, Harkins retrieved a Colt M4 rifle that he had been customizing to show his friend and pointed it at Cook as a joke.

Harkins said Cook casually remarked, "What, are you going to shoot me?" Harkins told detectives he pulled the trigger because he thought the gun was unloaded, however, there was a bullet in the chamber.