LEWISTON – A teenager was charged with manslaughter Tuesday in connection with an accidental shooting that claimed the life of 24-year-old man last month.

Brandon Knight, 19, of 125 Pine St., was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of reckless or negligent manslaughter with the use of a firearm. Shawn Fitzsimmons was drinking with friends in an apartment at 17 Horton St. where a 9 mm pistol was being passed around, investigators said.

Police said Knight was holding the gun when the trigger was squeezed and the gun discharged, firing a bullet into Fitzsimmons’ head.

From the beginning, Maine State Police have described the Sept. 11 shooting that killed Fitzsimmons as an accident.

The level of manslaughter Knight is charged with accuses him of reckless behavior that led to the death of another. The charge can carry up to 30 years in prison upon conviction.

Lewiston police began the investigation into the early morning shooting moments after it happened, but later passed the probe off to Maine State Police.

Police said Knight and Fitzsimmons were among several people drinking at the apartment of 21-year-old Aryne Brown. Acquaintances said Brown had bought the gun for her protection.

There was a clip inside the semi-automatic handgun as it was being examined by the group, police said. Only one bullet was fired.

Fitzsimmons was taken to Central Maine Medical Center, where he later died. A 1988 graduate of Lewiston High School, he had attended Elmira College in New York and was working for Bonney Temporary Services at the time of his death.

Police did not make any arrests or issue a summons in the days following the shooting.

A friend of Knight described him as extremely distraught and remorseful about the death of Fitzsimmons.

Maine State Police shared their investigative findings with the attorney general’s office. Prosecutors, in turn, presented their case this week to the Androscoggin County grand jury, which opted to indict Knight on the manslaughter charge.

Knight has not been arrested or jailed on the manslaughter charge. Instead, he will be summonsed to court. A tentative court date was set for Nov. 12, when it will be decided if Knight should be held pending trial.

“He is expected to surrender at his first court appearance,” said Maine State Police spokesman Stephen McCausland.

No other charges have been filed in the death of Fitzsimmons.

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