Kelso, Washington: Cowlitz County Sheriff Detectives have arrested 13 year Dawson A. Dunn for Manslaughter 1st degree. This arrest is a result of the investigation of the shooting that was first reported on October 14th. It occurred in the 1500 block of Carrol road, which is a few miles east of Kelso.

The victim, Edgar Vazquez was also 13 and lived in Kelso as well. Edgar had been spent a few nights with Dawson, they were friends.

The case unfolded when Dawson called 911 and reported that he had shot his friend while playing with a firearm. Deputies and medical aid responded and found the victim with a single shotgun wound to his upper body. They were unable to save the victim; he died at the scene.

Deputies had learned from Dawson that he had fired the shotgun before that day. He told the deputies that day that he checked the gun and racked the action and saw a round eject from the shotgun. He racked the action a second time and based on what he saw he believed it was empty when he pointed it at Edgar and pulled the trigger. He was surprised when the shotgun fired and pellets struck Edgar. Dawson said that he did not intend to shoot Edgar, he said it was an accident. (It is not clear why he pointed the firearm at Edgar.) Dawson has declined to be interviewed under advice of legal counsel.

Dawson was booked at the Cowlitz County Juvenile Detention facility and will appear in court sometime tomorrow. Media will have to call the Juvenile Detention facility to ask for the time of the hearing. He is being held on no bail at this time.

The decision to formally charge Dawson rest with the Prosecuting Attorney.

We are not releasing any photos. We are not describing the nature of the victims injuries in further details.

Request for the recording of the 911 call are being referred to the Cowlitz 911 dispatch center. Our case number is A17-3170.