'Cooperating' teen now charged with manslaughter, tampering in 14-year-old's killing

RUSKIN, Fla. (TND) — A teenager is facing some grown-up criminal charges after a deadly shooting.

Authorities in Florida found a 14-year-old boy who’d been shot in the chest on March 30.

The victim was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

At the time, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said the 15-year-old “who fired the gun is cooperating,” and “told detectives he was an acquaintance of the deceased.”

Now, that young gunman is under arrest for manslaughter and more.

According to the sheriff’s office, Cody Shimooka said “he was helping pack up a neighbor's home when he located a firearm within a drawer and it went off when he moved it, striking a 14-year-old victim in the chest.”

However, they said detectives “located evidence contradicting Shimooka's statements.

“Detectives also determined that the suspect tampered with physical evidence at the scene before deputies arrived.”

Authorities did not specify the evidence, the alleged tampering, or a motive.

Shimooka, 15, is charged with manslaughter with a firearm, tampering with physical evidence, and being a minor in possession of a firearm.