Banker’s assistant ‘accidentally shoots his friend dead’ while messing around with a handgun at dinner party streamed live on Facebook
Steven Leannais, 30, was charged with manslaughter following the fatal shooting of his friend Anthony Stanford II
A DINNER party in America which was streamed live on Facebook took a horrific turn when a banker's assistant accidentally shot his friend.
Steven Leannais, 30, was charged with manslaughter following the fatal shooting of his friend Anthony Stanford II, 27, at his home in Cleveland, Ohio, last Thursday.
The alleged shooting took place at 9.50pm.
A Facebook Live video was streaming beforehand and footage showed Leannais and two other friends playing around with a gun before Leannais arrived.
Leannais is also seen to show viewers that the gun is not loaded as he takes out the bullets.
Maintenance worker Stanford is filmed arriving at the apartment before the video ends.
According to police, Leannais allegedly picked the gun up, lowered it to his side and pulled the trigger, unaware a bullet was in the chamber.
The bullet hit Stanford in the upper abdomen, who then ran out the door.
Leannais allegedly followed and called 911.
Paramedics met the pair at the apartment and took Stanford to hospital where he was pronounced dead around an hour a later.
Leannais made his first court appearance on Monday and his bond was set at £8,000 ($10,000).
Prosecutors have claimed the shooting was not an accident and that Leannais, who has never been convicted of a crime, was responsible for shooting the gun.
His blood alcohol reading at the time is also being investigated.
His defence has said Leannais is 'extremely sorry' for what happened.
Defence lawyer, Leif Christman said: "If there was any way to trade places, he'd gladly do it."
He added: "It's so tragic.
"His friend is deceased.
"He hasn't eaten or slept since it happened.
"He needs to get counselling."
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