Stephen Throckmorton, 19, says he held a gun to his older brother Ronald's head and pulled the trigger -- but didn't think it was loaded, according to court documents released on Wednesday.
Throckmorton shot and killed his brother, Ronald on Monday, then fled in a panic, according to the police version in court documents. In the affidavit, Throckmorton told police he and his brother often played games with Ronald's .22 caliber gun, but never with the magazine clip in the gun.
The Danbury News-Times is reporting Ronald Throckmorton, 21, was making a cheeseburger in the kitchen when the gun went off.
Stephen jokingly said, "Safety's off," then reassured the girlfriend: "I always do this," the affidavit read.
"The gun went off and Ron fell to the ground," the girlfriend told police. "I saw Ron's eye bulge and he started to drool."
Stephen Throckmorton is on a suicide watch. Judge Frank Iannotti ordered Throckmorton held in lieu of $250,000 bond and continued the case to December 3.
In addition to the manslaughter charge, Throckmorton is charged with interfering with police and breach of peace. He is a part-time mason who lives with his parents and has no adult criminal convictions, according to court documents.
His lawyer, Hubert Santos told NBC 30 the brothers both lived with their mother in the Southbury home and the family is devastated, saying the brothers were best friends.
