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Palm Harbor man charged with manslaughter after shooting friend with rifle, deputies say

Shea Harkins, 26, thought the Colt M4 was unloaded when he pointed it at Sean Cook and pulled the trigger, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
 
Shea Michael Harkins, 26, was arrested early Friday and charged with manslaughter after he pointed what he thought was an unloaded rifle at his friend, Sean Cook, and pulled the trigger, shooting Cook in the chest, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The shooting happened about 7:45 p.m. Thursday at Harkins' Palm Harbor home.
Shea Michael Harkins, 26, was arrested early Friday and charged with manslaughter after he pointed what he thought was an unloaded rifle at his friend, Sean Cook, and pulled the trigger, shooting Cook in the chest, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. The shooting happened about 7:45 p.m. Thursday at Harkins' Palm Harbor home. [ Pinellas County Sheriff's Office ]
Published June 19, 2020|Updated June 19, 2020

PALM HARBOR — A 26-year Palm Harbor man has been charged with manslaughter after he pointed what he thought was an unloaded rifle at his friend and pulled the trigger, shooting him in the chest, deputies say.

The shooting happened about 7:45 p.m. Thursday when Shea Michael Harkins pointed a Colt M4 rifle at 26-year-old Sean Cook in the 3300 block of Brian Road South, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Cook, of Clearwater, had come to the house to play video games with Harkins.

Harkins told deputies that while the two friends were in an upstairs bedroom of the home, Harkins retrieved the rifle he had been customizing and pointed it at Cook as a joke. Harkins told deputies that Cook said, “What are you going to do, shoot me?”

Harkins then pulled the trigger thinking the gun was unloaded, but there was a round in the chamber, deputies said. The bullet struck Cook in the chest.

Cook was taken to Mease Countryside Hospital and pronounced dead at 8:55 p.m.

Harkins was arrested about 2 a.m. Friday. He was released from the Pinellas County jail after posting bail of $10,000.