By TREY HILL
Rains County Leader staff

An accidental shooting claimed the  life of a Rains County teenager on

Wednesday afternoon, March 12. Wesley Alan Pruitt, a 13-year-old student of

Rains Junior High, was  enjoying his Spring Break at a friend’s  house on CR

2130 when the incident took place.  Rains County Justice of the Peace Don

Smith said that an autopsy report indicated that Pruitt died from a gunshot

wound. He added that an autopsy is required whenever a death occurs

from a gunshot.

Smith said the two boys had been out hunting the previous day and

were making plans to return to the field when the accident occurred. He

said that the boys thought the gun, a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, was

unloaded and the friend ran the pump open to make sure the chamber was

empty. The JP said the friend then attempted a “dry fire” when the gun

went off, striking Pruitt in the forehead.  “It’s a real terrible tragedy,” said

Smith. “Two good friends and two good families.”