Boy Killed at Shooting Range

A 16-year-old boy was killed at a shooting range when his companion accidentally shot him in the head, authorities said Sunday.

The victim’s name was withheld until relatives could be notified. He and his friend were at the Kentucky Canyon Shooting Range in the Angeles National Forest south of Palmdale when the accident happened Saturday about 1:50 p.m., Los Angeles County sheriff’s spokesman Bill Linnemeyer said.

The boy’s 24-year-old friend, who also was not named, apparently pointed what he thought was an unloaded gun at the victim and shot him once, Linnemeyer said. The youth died at the scene.

Linnemeyer said the shooting is considered accidental.