Teen Killed in Game of Russian Roulette

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – A 17-year-old boy, in jail on manslaughter, claims a game of Russian Roulette that led to the death of a 14-year-old was an accident. 

According to KRIS, on Oct. 2, officers with the Corpus Christi Police Department were dispatched to the 1900 block of Horne Road for the report of a shooting victim. 

When they arrived they found 14-year-old Joe "Jojo" Flores who was "not moving" and was "clearly deceased." They also found a number of distraught family members who told them that Ivan Farias, 17, had shot Flores and then fled the scene. 

Later that night officers found a man matching Farias' description walking just a few blocks south of the residence. Officers spoke with Farias and initially noticed blood on his shirt. They also reported that Farias smelled like blood. 

After mirandizing Farias the officers asked what happened to Flores. Farias told them that the two had been playing Russian Roulette. Farias said that he held the gun to Flores' head and it just went off. He claims it was a complete accident. 

According to Merriam-Webster, Russian Roulette is an act of bravado consisting of spinning the cylinder of a revolver loaded with one cartridge, pointing the muzzle at one's own head, and pulling the trigger. In this situation Farias told police that he was pointing the gun at Flores. 

A candlelight vigil was held for Flores by his family members following his death.