The sole witness to the fatal shooting of a Jessup teenager said the gun accidentally discharged while the two friends were wrestling in the basement, the victim’s brother said Thursday.
Howard police haven’t confirmed the circumstances surrounding the death of Michael Mullinax, 17, of Cambridge Court, who was killed about 9:21 p.m. Wednesday at the house of his longtime friend Kenneth Bowser, 22, in the 8100 block of Sheffield Court.
But officers told Mullinax’s family that Bowser reported the shooting as accidental, said Fred Rach, 25, of Ellicott City, who is Mullinax’s brother.
“The story is that they were wrestling, just horsing around, and the gun went off,” Rach said Thursday as he stood outside Bower’s house.
“I don’t believe that, but I’m not going to jump to any conclusions.”
No one answered the door at Bowser’s house Thursday, but neighbors described a chaotic scene of police swarming the house with guns drawn. Mullinax was dead from a single gunshot to the chest.
Police wouldn’t confirm whether Bowser is a suspect or provide further details, including the type of gun or its owner.
This is the fourth homicide in Howard so far this year, compared to five in 2007.
Bowser wasn’t arrested and police would not disclose his statement.
“When someone provides us with a statement and they are the only witness, we obviously need to verify their story versus what the forensic evidence shows us,” said Officer Bryce Buell, police spokesman.
“We get the physical evidence and see how the story matches up.”
Police also questioned Bowser’s mother, who was home during the incident and called police, Buell said.
Bowser has no prior convictions but is scheduled to appear in Howard District Court this morning on a drunken driving charge, according to court records.
Mullinax wasn’t enrolled in Howard County public schools but recently obtained his GED, Rach said.
“He was a good kid who made the same mistakes everyone else did,” he said.
Mullinax had been excited about a new job at a local mechanic shop, Rach said.
Wednesday was his first day.
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