A Florida man faces charges of negligent homicide after accidentally shooting and killing his friend while intoxicated, authorities said. Abraham Bordas, 22, is accused of the Dec. 30 shooting death of his friend Chase Koepke, 26, in Marion County.
The incident occurred at Koepke’s residence in Dunnellon, just outside the city limits. The suspect admitted to finding Koepke’s gun and picking it up to admire the weapon. Unfortunately, while handling the gun, Bordas accidentally shot Koepke in the stomach or abdomen. Despite calling 911 and the victim being rushed to the hospital, he succumbed to his wound.
Authorities stated that Bordas, who admitted to consuming alcohol, did not realize the gun was loaded or that the safety was off. A detective at the scene noted the defendant’s glossy, bloodshot eyes and detected a strong smell of alcohol on his breath. The suspect claimed he and Koepke had been friends for two years and that they had been drinking Twisted Iced Teas prior to the incident.
An eyewitness, who had come to paint with the two men, reported seeing Koepke stumble off the couch and mention the shooting. She tried to stop the bleeding with paper towels, but Koepke eventually lost consciousness. Bordas, who claimed he had never handled a gun before, was found to have never experienced operating a firearm.
Bordas was arrested and subsequently released on a $30,000 bond. The gun involved in the incident was identified as a 9 mm Canik TP9 SF Elite, and a loaded magazine and spent shell casing were recovered at the scene. The tragic outcome of an evening among friends drinking and painting serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of mishandling firearms while under the influence.