WILKES-BARRE — Kahzmeek A. Prater says he didn’t mean to kill his friend Jacob Shedlock last Friday night, calling the teen’s shooting death “a big accident.”
Police are calling the case involuntary manslaughter.
They allege Prater, 18, was playing with a semiautomatic handgun and trying to fix an unravelling marijuana blunt when the weapon discharged as he and Shedlock stood chest-to-chest in Prater’s Pennsylvania Avenue bedroom.
Following his arraignment Wednesday before District Judge Thomas Malloy, a handcuffed Prater spoke out —despite his mother’s admonishment — telling reporters: “I really loved my friend Jacob,” and that Shedlock’s death was an accident.
Investigators also say Prater initially tried to cover up the incident, trying to hide the gun and telling police Shedlock, 18, was shot by an unknown robber.
Prater later admitted to the shooting, investigators say.
Initial report
According to court documents:
Police responded to 768. N. Pennsylvania Ave. shortly before 11 p.m. Friday for a report of a gunshot victim.
They found Shedlock with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was transported to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital where he died a short time after arrival.
An autopsy performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Gary Ross showed Shedlock died from the chest wound. His death was ruled a homicide by Coroner William Lisman.
A city detective who interviewed Prater at the scene said Prater told detectives that he was upstairs in the bathroom, located next to his bedroom, with the door closed at the time of the shooting.
Prater said Shedlock told him that a “buddy” was coming over. Moments later, Prater heard a single gunshot. He said he ran out of the bathroom to find Shedlock walking out of Prater’s bedroom bleeding and asking him to call 911.
Shedlock fell into Prater at the top of the staircase of the residence, he told investigators.
Marijuana in home
Prater’s mother, Nicole Prater, arrived at the scene and both signed a consent form allowing police to search the residence, police said. They said Prater also allowed them to search his cellphone.
A state police forensic unit observed a clear bag of suspected marijuana sitting on top of a dresser in Prater’s bedroom. Inside of his dresser, troopers said they found a safe containing a large clear plastic bag of suspected marijuana along with U.S. currency and a magazine to a pistol. A backpack was recovered in the attic that contained more marijuana and a digital scale.
Investigators said they found a total of 1,200 grams — roughly 2.6 pounds — of suspected marijuana at the residence.
A .40-caliber cartridge casing was found on Prater’s bedroom floor, and blood evidence was recovered in the bedroom, leading investigators to believe the shooting occurred there.
Alleged denial, confession
Prater went to Wilkes-Barre Police headquarters early Saturday morning where he spoke with detectives again.
In that meeting, Prater said he was not involved in the shooting of Shedlock. He maintained his explanation that an unknown person shot Shedlock and suggested the shooting was the result of a robbery or invasion, according to the affidavit.
Prater did admit that the marijuana located in his house was his and that he sells it.
On Sunday morning, according to the affidavit, Prater returned to headquarters requesting to speak with investigators.
That’s when his story changed.
He told them that he and Shedlock were listening to rap music while handling a silver-and-black Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun.
Police said Prater told them he had the gun in one hand with his finger on the trigger while holding a blunt. The blunt began to unravel, and while attempting to fix the cigar, the firearm discharged unexpectedly.
“Shedlock was struck in the chest and fell into Prater, stating ‘call 911,’” the affidavit states.
While Prater was on the phone with 911, he took the firearm and tossed it as far as he could in his backyard before returning to tend to Shedlock, he told investigators.
In that second meeting with investigators, he said he “made up” the story that it was a possible robbery or home invasion.
Prater is charged involuntary manslaughter, tampering with evidence, false reports to law enforcement and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
Following arraignment, he was remanded to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $150,000. A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 12.
“This is justice for Jacob,” Prater said, as an officer eased him into the back of a squad car.
