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Owner Of Gun In Accidental Teen Shooting Speaks Out For First Time

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A 15-year-old is shot and killed at a slumber party after another child finds a gun in the house. Tonight, the gun owner opens up to WJZ on the tragedy and the possibility he could face criminal charges.

Mike Hellgren spoke with the man who owns the gun.

15-year-old Michael Brooks was shot in the head during a sleepover in Cherry Hill.

Police say they will not file charges against the 11-year-old boy who pulled the trigger but have not ruled out charges against the gun's owner, Richard Moore, a former corrections officer.

"There's no winner. There's no loser. There's just hurting people. Everybody's hurting," said Moore.

In his first television interview, Moore tells WJZ he had 22 guns inside his house and kept them locked and unloaded in his bedroom. Police confiscated them all, and he's not sure how the boys got into the room.

"I've been handling guns for over 40 years, through the Marine Corps, through the Army. 20 years in state service at the Patuxent Institution. I worked with the federal government. I've never had an incident with a handgun," said Moore.

The victim's uncle says someone should pay for what happened.

"Any parent who's got a gun that's not locked up out there ought to have their head examined," he said.

Firearms instructor, Sgt. Brian Atwood tells WJZ this should serve as a warning of how weapons should be properly stored.

"They should not be accessible to children. I can't emphasize that enough. They should be locked and secured at all times," Atwood said.

"I'm sorry this whole incident happened, but there was no negligence involved," said gun owner, Richard Moore. "If I could change places with that young man, I gladly would. I've lived my life."

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