BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A Vermont man who went to jail after admitting he shot his best friend to death with what he had thought was an air gun has been sued by his friend's family.
Nicholas Bell of Manchester pleaded no contest to the Thanksgiving Day 2010 death of 24-year-old Jeffrey Charbonneau. He was sentenced to a year in jail in June.
Police say Bell and Charbonneau were staying at the home of a mutual friend when Bell shot Charbonneau in the chest as he slept. The weapon was a loaded .22 caliber rifle.
The Bennington Banner reports Charbonneau's parents filed wrongful death complaints against Bell and the Goodwin family, which owns the home.
A lawyer for the Goodwins said they are not responsible for the shooting.
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Nicholas Bell - File photo
Jeffrey Charbonneau
