A playful gesture turned out to be a deadly mistake.
Justin Holt, 22, was accidentally shot and killed by his 20-year-old girlfriend, Erin Steele, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
The couple had taken turns "dry firing" a new, unloaded gun their friend had purchased while the couple and two other pals hung out at a Boca Raton, Fla. home on Sunday.
Later, police said, the gun's owner, Joshua Henry, loaded the weapon and set it down.
Not knowing it was loaded, Steele picked up the .9mm handgun and fired it at Holt, shooting him in the chest.
Holt was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Holt's sister, Olivia, told WPBF her brother and Steele were inseparable.
"She was with Justin all the time," Olivia Holt said. "They loved each other a lot."
Police are investigating the incident, but thus far, no one has been charged.
Holt's grandfather told the Sun-Sentinel her family has no ill will toward Steele.
"We have a lot of compassion for her because she's got to live with that, no matter what she does, for the rest of her life," Michael DiFiore said.
Policy Mic reported that accidental gun killings accounted for 858 deaths in 2012.
Related
Before You Go
