A Cheyenne teen has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of his 19-year-old friend.

Eighteen-year-old Austin Daniel entered the plea in Laramie County District Court this (Friday) morning.

Daniel is accused of shooting and killing Mark Dreiman in a garage at 1008 Drew Court on the night of September 17.

Daniel told detectives the two were messing around with his handgun when Dreiman racked a round into the chamber. Daniel took the gun away from Dreiman and removed the magazine, but said he forgot about the bullet being in the chamber when he pointed the gun at Dreiman and accidentally shot him.

Daniel is facing a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison with a possible enhancement of 10 years for a firearms violation. His trial has been set for January 9, 2017.

Daniel is being held in the Laramie County Detention Center on $25,000 cash bond.

Joy Greenwald, Townsquare Media
Joy Greenwald, Townsquare Media
loading...

More From K2 Radio