Lee teen dies in fatal shooting

LEESBURG — A Lee County teenager died Sunday evening after accidentally shooting himself with a pistol, said Lee County authorities.

Maj. Chris Owens of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said Christopher Smith, 17, was at a friend’s house on Darian Drive in the Lazy Acres Subdivision when the shooting occurred.

“He had a pistol and was walking toward the house when he tripped over some lawn equipment, a leaf blower, I think, when the gun went off,” said Owens.

Investigators said Smith was carrying a loaded .45 caliber pistol around 8 p.m. in the backyard of his friend’s residence when he fell and the gun fired. The bullet hit the teenager in the chin, killing him.

Owens said officers do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved in the incident.