HOLLY HILL, Fla. – The friend of an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student shot and killed last September is now facing a weapons charge, Holly Hill police announced Monday evening.
Jacob Eldred, 26, faces a misdemeanor charge of improper exhibition of a firearm for the shooting that killed Timothy Englehardt, 22, three months ago.
Holly Hill Police Chief Stephen Aldrich said the decision came after an ongoing investigation into what happened at 346 Clifton Avenue.
Detectives said Englehardt had gone to the home to care for Eldred's pet while Eldred was on a day trip to Gainesville. While Englehardt was still at the home, Eldred returned home with three people. Police shey said the group began to drink and talk.
Investigators said they've learned Englehardt went outside to take a phone call and came back inside the home agitated, talking about personal problems and making suicidal statements.
Witnesses told detectives Eldred grabbed a handgun he usually carries, emptied the magazine and approached Englehardt, telling him he had thought of suicide in the past as well but that it wasn't the right thing to do. That's when Englehardt grabbed the barrel of the gun and pulled it toward him. A bullet left in the chamber struck him in his head.
Englehardt's death was ruled a suicide. His father, Bill Englehardt, told CBS News in November he's had trouble accepting that's how he died.
"I just constantly lie awake at night thinking of my son being shot in the head," said Bille Englehardt.
Holly Hill police detectives now imply the shot that killed the aspiring TV meteorologist was fired while the gun was still in his friend's hand.
One of the other three friends in the home called 911 immediately after the shooting.
"No, you didn't, you didn't kill him, relax. Oh my God, I can't believe he did that," Stephanie Lauber is heard saying while on the line with the dispatcher.
Her statements during the call raised questions with Englehardt's parents about how the shooting happened
"Because of just how infectious and incredible his personality was, it was hard to believe that anyone would think or want to do anything like that to him," said James Anderson, a friend and former roommate of Englehardt's.
Anderson said he and other friends never believed Englehardt would want to harm himself and that the new criminal charge is exactly what they believed would come of the ongoing investigation.
"A lot of us believed that it was a form of negligence on the firearm owner's part," said Anderson.
Eldred has not been arrested. Holly Hill police filed a criminal complaint affidavit for the State Attorney's Office to review.