It happened in Billings, Montana, early Sunday. The teens went over to their friends family home at 2:30 in the morning. They could not wake him initially, so they threw pebbles at his window.
Their friend inside woke up and it appears became frightened when he saw two faces peering in through his window. He had a gun in his bedroom, a revolver, and grabbed it, firing at the faces. He hit one, his friend, Mackeon Schulte, right in the head. Schulte was killed. The other boy was not hurt.
Billings Police Chief Rich St. John said that the tragedy has the entire community, and especially the school the boys attend, badly shook up, and he released a statement to the press.
“When their friend awoke, he was startled by the noise and saw faces outside the window,” St. John’s statement read. “He didn’t know who they were and was scared.”
The names of the other teens have not been released as they are juveniles. St. John’s said that they took the teen who did the shooting into custody for questioning but have since released him without charges. Prosecutors, police and the family of the dead boy will meet to decide if any charges should be filed.
The Billings Gazette spoke to the superintendent of the school district, Terry Bouck, and he said they are trying to help students cope with the loss of their friend. “This is a huge tragedy for Senior High and the district,” Bouck told the Gazette. “We’re just doing the best we can to make sure everyone is okay throughout this situation.”
Crisis counselors are on hand at the school.
