Florida Man Charged with Manslaughter After Killing Friend with BB Gun in Fort Pierce

Jabari Cowart, 36, allegedly shot Shawn Johnson in the armpit with a BB gun pellet that pierced his lungs. Johnson died of internal bleeding at a hospital.

Fort Pierce Man Dies After BB Gun Pellet Enters Lungs, Friend Charged

A 36-year-old Fort Pierce man has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly shooting his friend to death with a BB gun, Law & Crime reports. The pellet struck the victim in the armpit, penetrated his lungs, and caused fatal internal bleeding.

Jabari Cowart faces the manslaughter charge in connection with the death of Shawn Johnson, 34. Fort Pierce police responded to a home in the 2900 block of Avenue G around 8 p.m. Saturday after a shooting was reported. Officers found Johnson lying in the driveway with a puncture wound to his right armpit consistent with a BB gun pellet.

Paramedics treating Johnson at the scene determined that his lungs were "filling with blood indicating that the projectile had made entry into his lungs, and that his injury was life threatening," according to a probable cause arrest affidavit. Johnson was transported to a hospital, where he died.

Cowart initially claimed Johnson had accidentally shot himself. Investigators pushed back on that account, noting that the rifle's barrel was "fairly long thus making it nearly impossible" for Johnson to have inflicted the wound on himself in that location.

Witnesses told police that Cowart, Johnson, and two other men had been in the backyard shooting at trees. Cowart asked to handle the rifle. Once it was handed to him, he allegedly turned toward Johnson and pulled the trigger. Johnson "grabbed his side" and walked away before collapsing.

When detectives confronted Cowart with the witness statements, he maintained his version of events and was described as "deflecting" and attempting to "shift the blame." Investigators noted that he "would take long pauses during his responses and tried to avoid answering questions." Cowart subsequently requested an attorney, and the interview ended.

Police arrested Cowart and booked him into the St. Lucie County Jail, where he is held on a $50,000 bond. No court date had been listed at the time of reporting.

Source: Law & Crime