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---
description: A fatal shooting of a 15-year-old has been ruled an accident after the shooter fired shots because he became scared by pebbles being thrown
title: Teen Shoots, Kills Friend Who Was Throwing Pebbles At Window
image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt41e992a17cab3c7d/69884d1955a8596e5ca8bb18/shooter-billings-pebbles.jpg?branch=production&amp;width=3840&amp;quality=75&amp;auto=webp&amp;crop=16:9
---

![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt41e992a17cab3c7d/69884d1955a8596e5ca8bb18/shooter-billings-pebbles.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)

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# Teen Shoots, Kills Friend Trying to Wake Him by Throwing Pebbles at Window


by 

[Kevin McSpadden](/author/kevin-mcspadden/)


## Kevin McSpadden


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May 19, 2015 4:42 AM CUT

![Billings police are on the scene of a shooting with one person dead, Sunday, May 17, 2015. A Montana boy startled at being awakened in the middle of the night fired a shot through his bedroom window and killed the 15-year-old friend who had been knocking](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt41e992a17cab3c7d/69884d1955a8596e5ca8bb18/shooter-billings-pebbles.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Billings police are on the scene of a shooting with one person dead, Sunday, May 17, 2015

Billings police are on the scene of a shooting with one person dead, Sunday, May 17, 2015Larry Mayer—AP

by 

[Kevin McSpadden](/author/kevin-mcspadden/)


## Kevin McSpadden


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May 19, 2015 4:42 AM CUT

A 15-year-old boy in Billings, Mont., [died](http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/senior-high-student-killed-after-throwing-pebbles-at-friend-s/article%5F489e8398-f4a4-53a7-ba9f-11038971a453.html "undefined") early Sunday morning after he tried to wake his friend by throwing rocks at his bedroom window but was shot in response.

Mackeon Schulte died from a bullet wound to the head at about 2:30 a.m. Another boy escaped without injury, according to the Billings _Gazette_.

Police have ruled the death an accident.

Schulte and his friend were apparently at a sleepover when they decided to visit the shooter’s house. In an attempt to wake the sleeping teen, the two boys knocked on his window and threw pebbles at his room. But he reportedly became frightened by the noise, grabbed a revolver and fired through the window.

No arrests have been made but investigators will be meeting with Schulte’s family and local officials to determine if charges will be filed.

“It’s a tragedy. We have to investigate at this point for what it is, but it’s a tragedy all around,” said police captain John Bedford.

\[[_Billings Gazette_](http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/senior-high-student-killed-after-throwing-pebbles-at-friend-s/article%5F489e8398-f4a4-53a7-ba9f-11038971a453.html "undefined")\]

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