LEWISTON – A 24-year-old Lewiston man died after being shot in the head by a friend early Saturday as they were apparently horsing around with a loaded gun.

Shawn Fitzsimmons died at Central Maine Medical Center, where he was taken after police responded to a 2:23 a.m. call for help from 17 Horton St. The second-floor apartment where Fitzsimmons was shot is rented by Aryne Brown, 21, who police believe owns the 9 mm handgun used in the shooting.

According to police, three friends were visiting Brown when the gun was displayed. The friends were horsing around when one of them, 19-year-old Brandon Knight, pulled the trigger, police said.

“While Knight was handling the gun, it went off,” said Steve McCausland, spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety. “He pulled the trigger, it went off and shot Fitzsimmons in the head.”

Also in the apartment at the time of the shooting was 16-year-old Joseph Chase. Chase and Knight are also of Lewiston.

McCausland said no decision had been made as of Saturday night regarding charges. Although the shooting may have been unintentional, McCausland said it wasn’t an accident.

“Young men of this age bracket should know better than to play around with a loaded firearm,” said McCausland.

He plans to meet with the Attorney General’s Office next week to determine whether charges are appropriate.