Executive Summary
- Police responded to a fatal shooting in Fernandina Beach at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.
- The suspect claimed the shooting was accidental while the pair were “playing around” with a gun.
- Witnesses confirmed the suspect and victim were best friends for nearly 14 years.
- Authorities have charged the suspect with manslaughter following the victim’s death.
A Fernandina Beach man has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly shooting his roommate and best friend early Tuesday morning, an incident the suspect described to law enforcement as an accidental discharge.
Officers from the Fernandina Beach Police Department responded to a residence around 3:30 a.m. following a 911 call from the suspect, identified as Richardson. According to police reports, Richardson informed dispatchers that he had accidentally shot his friend in the head. Upon arrival, responding officers observed Richardson standing near the victim, shirtless and covered in blood.
The police report describes Richardson as being “distraught” at the scene, noting that he made spontaneous statements indicating he had “just killed his best friend.” Investigators state that Richardson claimed the two men were “playing around” with a firearm when it discharged unexpectedly. He reportedly told officers that he should never have handled the weapon and that it “just went off.”
Further investigation revealed the close relationship between the suspect and the victim. According to interviews with a third roommate, Richardson and the victim had known each other for approximately 14 years, worked together at a restaurant, and co-owned the property where the shooting occurred. The roommate described them as best friends who did everything together.
The witness told police they were in another room playing video games when they heard a loud bang, which they initially dismissed as a circuit breaker malfunction. Upon hearing a second noise, the witness exited their room and discovered the victim lying on the kitchen floor with a head injury while Richardson was on the phone with emergency services.
Following his detention, police observed Richardson in an interview room around 7:30 a.m., where he was seen talking to himself and repeatedly apologizing. The victim succumbed to his injuries later that morning at approximately 10:15 a.m. Richardson was subsequently booked into the Nassau County Jail.
Investigative Outlook
The Fernandina Beach Police Department is continuing its investigation into the specific circumstances leading to the firearm’s discharge. While the suspect maintains the shooting was accidental, the manslaughter charge indicates that authorities believe the handling of the weapon met the legal threshold for culpable negligence. As the case progresses, forensic analysis of the firearm and the trajectory of the shot will likely play a critical role in corroborating or challenging the accidental defense. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
