An Omaha teen is in custody in connection to the death of 18-year-old Tanner Farrell, according to the Omaha Police Department.Blake Miller, 18, was booked into Douglas County Corrections on Tuesday and will be charged with manslaughter.Farrell, a baseball player at Ralston High School, was shot at Miller’s home near 161st Avenue and Harrison Street on March 12. Miller was allegedly showing a family gun, .22 rifle, to his friends, including Farrell. The Douglas County Attorney said Miller fired the gun at Farrell.”It’s alleged during horseplay that Blake Miller pointed the gun at Tanner Farrell and pulled the trigger thinking that gun was not loaded … killing Mr. Farrell,” Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine told KETV NewsWatch 7. “There are certainly cases where somebody accidentally kills someone. Maybe a hunting accident where somebody trips and falls and the gun goes off. That might be considered an accident. This is so reckless in nature by pointing the gun at an individual, pulling the trigger that fits the definition of manslaughter. … It’s a tragic incident. These people were all friends.””We are deeply saddened by the news that charges have been filed. Blake Miller and Tanner have been best friends for years. We love Blake as one of our own. We want Blake and his family to know we are here and in support of them all,” Tiffany and Jason Farrell said in a statement to KETV NewsWatch 7. Kleine also told KETV NewsWatch 7 that four boys were home alone, when Miller showed the rifle to Farrell. He said Miller normally uses the rifle for target shooting.”You have a life, a young life, that’s a person who, from what I’ve heard is a good person. And on the other side of it, you have an individual who killed a friend unintentionally.” said Kleine. “But it just shows you what can happen when somebody who doesn’t apparently know what they’re doing is handling a firearm in an inappropriate manner.”Kleine also said it appeared the boys had a few beers. Investigators are looking into where the underage boys obtained the alcohol. “I don’t know level of drinking that was going on, but there was alcohol involved. Also, a bad combination,” Kleine said. Miller is set to appear in Douglas County court on March 16.Click here for more information on Farrell’s visitation and celebration of life.
An Omaha teen is in custody in connection to the death of 18-year-old Tanner Farrell, according to the Omaha Police Department.
Blake Miller, 18, was booked into Douglas County Corrections on Tuesday and will be charged with manslaughter.
Farrell, a baseball player at Ralston High School, was shot at Miller’s home near 161st Avenue and Harrison Street on March 12. Miller was allegedly showing a family gun, .22 rifle, to his friends, including Farrell. The Douglas County Attorney said Miller fired the gun at Farrell.
“It’s alleged during horseplay that Blake Miller pointed the gun at Tanner Farrell and pulled the trigger thinking that gun was not loaded … killing Mr. Farrell,” Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine told KETV NewsWatch 7. “There are certainly cases where somebody accidentally kills someone. Maybe a hunting accident where somebody trips and falls and the gun goes off. That might be considered an accident. This is so reckless in nature by pointing the gun at an individual, pulling the trigger that fits the definition of manslaughter. … It’s a tragic incident. These people were all friends.”
“We are deeply saddened by the news that charges have been filed. Blake Miller and Tanner have been best friends for years. We love Blake as one of our own. We want Blake and his family to know we are here and in support of them all,” Tiffany and Jason Farrell said in a statement to KETV NewsWatch 7.
Kleine also told KETV NewsWatch 7 that four boys were home alone, when Miller showed the rifle to Farrell. He said Miller normally uses the rifle for target shooting.
“You have a life, a young life, that’s a person who, from what I’ve heard is a good person. And on the other side of it, you have an individual who killed a friend unintentionally.” said Kleine. “But it just shows you what can happen when somebody who doesn’t apparently know what they’re doing is handling a firearm in an inappropriate manner.”
Kleine also said it appeared the boys had a few beers. Investigators are looking into where the underage boys obtained the alcohol.
“I don’t know level of drinking that was going on, but there was alcohol involved. Also, a bad combination,” Kleine said.
Miller is set to appear in Douglas County court on March 16.
Click here for more information on Farrell’s visitation and celebration of life.