Two Tucson teenagers facing first-degree murder charges told investigators the weekend shooting death of a 16-year-old was an accident, according to court documents released Monday.
The suspects told authorities the gun — a silver .357 revolver — went off when the victim tried to grab it, say probable cause statements filed in Pima County Justice Court.
Raymond R. Godoy told authorities he and his cousin, Anthony Encinas, were going to "jack (the) victim," 16-year-old Derreck Burruss, according to the court document.
Burruss was shot to death about 12:30 a.m. Saturday while walking home with two friends after watching a Friday night movie at Park Place mall, said Sgt. Fabian Pacheco, a Tucson Police Department spokesman. It was the first homicide in the Tucson area this year.
Burruss and his friends had just watched "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and did nothing to provoke the shooting, Pacheco said.
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"What prompted the shooting is still under investigation," he said.
The shooting took place at a bus stop at the southwest corner of East 29th Street and South Wilmot Road, about 1 1/2 miles south of the mall.
Encinas, 18, and Godoy, 15, were booked into Pima County jail Saturday on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection with Burruss' death. Investigators believe Encinas fired the deadly shot, but Godoy had enough involvement to be charged with murder, Pacheco said.
A witness was able to identity Godoy, according to the probable-cause statement. Godoy was found at his house not far from the scene of the shooting, the document says.
He later admitted his involvement in the shooting and said he knew Encinas had a gun but didn't think Encinas would shoot it, according to the document.
The document also says Godoy told authorities that Burruss must have thought the gun was fake, because he grabbed for it and the gun went off.
The victim was shot once and died, according to the document.
Godoy and Encinas then took the gun back to Godoy's house and hid it in an air-conditioning duct, the document says.
Encinas also told authorities the gun fired accidentally when Burruss grabbed for it, according to the probable-cause statement in connection with his arrest.
Tucson police haven't released any information indicating the shooting was accidental, and Pacheco wouldn't comment on Encinas' and Godoy's statements because the the two are facing prosecution.
Burruss was a sophomore at Santa Rita High School, 3951 S. Pantano Road, and lived on the Southeast Side.
His mother, Lakia Culver, told the Star on Saturday evening that her son liked playing basketball and football, and was trying out for the dance club at his high school.
Culver said officers had told her the shooting was random and not gang-related.
Pacheco confirmed that, saying, "We don't have any information to indicate any gang affiliation with either the victim or the suspects."
