Accidental shooting death of teen driver in KC prompts manslaughter charge
Jackson County prosecutors have charged a 27-year-old man with involuntary manslaughter in the accidental shooting death of a teen driver earlier this month in Kansas City.
According to court records, Bayron E. Cuellar of Kansas City was handling a gun while riding in a vehicle when the gun fired. A bullet hit the driver, Luis Palacios-Romero, 17, in the head as he drove in the area of Interstate 435 and Winner Road on Dec. 13.
Palacios-Romero immediately slumped over. His front-seat passenger leaned over and worked the brake with his hand to get the car stopped. Cuellar, who had been riding in the back seat, and the two other passengers took Palacios-Romero to Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Cuellar told police he had been trying to “decock” the gun when it went off.
The Star
This story was originally published December 22, 2015 at 11:13 AM with the headline "Accidental shooting death of teen driver in KC prompts manslaughter charge."