The Carson City Sheriff's Department spent four hours early Sunday morning investigating what they thought was a gang-related shooting before discovering the victim was actually shot by a discharging firearm as she traveled through Washoe Valley.
According to police reports the 15-year-old girl was taken to Carson-Tahoe Hospital at 12:31 a.m. by her 16-year-old boyfriend.
Initially, the two told officers she was shot as she sat in a car on Woodside Drive.
Deputies searched through the night for the alleged gunmen before a witness told police the boyfriend accidentally shot the victim as the trio, all minors from Carson City, rode through Washoe Valley.
According to the witness who was in the backseat, the victim was in the passenger seat and her boyfriend was driving.
The victim was taken to Washoe Medical Center from Carson-Tahoe with a gunshot wound to the shoulder and is listed in good condition.
"Everything is consistent with it being an accidental shooting," said Deputy Michelle Youngs of the Washoe County Sheriff's Department.
Youngs said the weapon, which was tossed near Belvue Bridge, was recovered. The shooting is still under investigation.
She said a charge of minor in possession of a deadly weapon could be filed in the case.
"This was a serious mishandling of a weapon," she said. "It's as close to the worst possible scenario as you can get."
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