Warrant issued for teen accused of accidentally shooting friend in face, killing him

PITTSBURGH — An arrest warrant has been issued for a teenager accused of accidently shooting his friend in the face, killing him, police said.

Michael Hartwick is wanted in connection with the Sept. 8 shooting at a home on Fingal Street in Pittsburgh's Duquesne Heights neighborhood. He faces charges including involuntary manslaughter.

Family members told Channel 11 News Hartwick and the victim, 16-year-old Alexander Alman, were playing when Alman was accidentally shot. Alman later died at a Pittsburgh hospital.

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Hartwick, who was initially detained after the shooting, lived at the home, police said. The shooting happened in his bedroom and the teens were the only two people home.

Hartwick told authorities on Sept. 16 that he was holding a pistol and Alman had a BB gun when they started "pointing the guns at each other in a playful manner," a criminal complaint said. Hartwick's gun then went off and Alman was shot.

Alman was a junior at Brashear High School. Hartwick described him as his best friend.

According to the complaint, Hartwick told investigators that earlier in the day he and Alman had been playing video games and smoking marijuana.

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