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Suspect in 17-year-old's shooting death arrested in South Carolina

Deputies said a 28-year-old man was arrested in York County following the shooting death of a 17-year-old in Kannapolis Thursday morning.

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — A Kannapolis man was arrested in York County, South Carolina, Friday after deputies said he shot and killed his 17-year-old foster brother while "playing" with a gun Thursday morning. 

Rowan County deputies responded to a reported shooting at a home on Fowler Street in Kannapolis shortly before 10 a.m. When deputies got to the scene, they found a 17-year-old who had been shot. The victim, who hasn't been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. 

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Detectives identified 28-year-old Jahrell Dashawn McKenzie Jr. as a suspect in the shooting based on interviews with witnesses and evidence gathered at the scene. Deputies determined that McKenzie was outside the house with a handgun in his possession that he was "playing with." The gun went off while he was handling it and shot the 17-year-old in the upper back. 

Rowan County authorities said McKenzie was arrested in York County and is awaiting extradition back to North Carolina. He is being charged with involuntary manslaughter. 

This investigation remains ongoing.

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