CLAIRTON (KDKA) – One teenager is dead and another is behind bars charged with her death after a shooting in Clairton over the weekend.

Allegheny County Police say Karrie Linnen, 17, died from a gunshot wound to the chest early yesterday morning.

Police say the shooting happened during a party at a garage in the 600-block of Park Avenue around 1 a.m. on Sunday.

According to officials, a group of teenagers were drinking beer in the garage of the home when Gerron Chaney, 18, allegedly passed a handgun around. While re-loading the weapon to put it away, Chaney reportedly fired the single shot — killing Linnen.

Chaney’s family says the shooting was a terrible accident.

“We just want to let everybody know it was an accident,” the suspect’s father, Gregory Chaney, told KDKA. “We hope the families can get over this.”

“I think it’s a shame that these kids are involved in gun play and drinking,” Gregory Chaney added. “It has to stop somewhere… I feel so bad for the family.”

Gerron Chaney is being held in the Allegheny County Jail on criminal homicide charges.

Linnen would have been a senior year at Clairton High School.

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