Weekend Proves Deadly for Teens
September 3, 2002
Page: A1
John Fleck and Katie Burford Journal Staff Writers
Three N.M. Boys Killed In Separate Incidents
A shooting, a fight and a traffic accident each claimed the life of a New Mexico teen over the holiday weekend.
Three teenagers a 16-year-old, a 15-year-old and a 14-year-old, all boys lost their lives between Saturday and Monday night, police said.
On Sunday afternoon, police were called after a teenager was dropped off at Presbyterian Hospital with a gunshot wound to the neck. Investigators traced the incident back to a residence in the 200 block of Sycamore NE, according to Albuquerque Police Department Detective Jeff Arbogast. A 36-year-old Albuquerque man was arrested in connection with the shooting, an apparent firearms accident.
James Rigel was charged with one count of child abuse resulting in the death of Karl Samuelson, 16, Arbogast said.
Police believe Rigel was handling a handgun at the Sycamore house with Samuelson in the room when the gun went off, hitting the boy in the neck and killing him, Arbogast said.
An unnamed 13-year-old, also in the room at the same time, was uninjured, Arbogast said, leading to a second charge against Rigel of child abuse without great bodily harm.