Teen dies after gun accidentally discharges inside vehicle in DeKalb, cops say

A teenager was fatally shot Friday evening inside a vehicle after his cousin accidentally fired a gun in DeKalb County, police said.

Officers were called to the 1800 block of Shawn Wayne Court near a fire station regarding a person shot shortly before 10 p.m. Michael Wilkes, 19, was found with a gunshot wound to the back and taken to a hospital, where he later died, according to police.

Authorities learned that the shooting took place at a different location before the victim was driven to Shawn Wayne Court.

Officers said they spoke with two other people who were inside the vehicle and found out that a rear passenger accidentally discharged a firearm, striking Wilkes. The victim’s cousin, 19-year-old Quintavious Wilkes, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and booked into the DeKalb jail.

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.

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