North Amityville man, 20, charged in 'accidental' fatal shooting of best friend, 17, with ghost gun

A 20-year-old North Amityville man pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter charges Monday after his lawyer said he accidentally shot and killed his best friend.

Bryan Ventura-Ramirez entered the plea in First District Court in Central Islip following the fatal shooting of Robin Moscoso-Hernandez, 17, of Bethpage.

Ventura-Ramirez was also charged with criminal possession of a firearm. He appeared in court before about 15 of his sobbing family members and friends.

Prosecutors said the two friends were in Ventura-Ramirez's Amityville bedroom Saturday night, when he pointed a 9 mm pistol at Moscoso-Hernandez's chest — a weapon that, he told authorities, he believed was not loaded — and pulled the trigger.

The bullet pierced his heart and liver, Assistant District Attorney Michelle Chiuchiolo said.

Ventura-Ramirez called 911. His mother and 7-year-old brother were also in the home at the time of the 8:22 p.m. shooting.

"This defendant did shoot his 17-year-old friend, Robin Moscoso-Hernandez, in the chest at close range," Chiuchiolo said.

Ventura-Ramirez's defense attorney, Gregory Grizopoulos, said the shooting was an accident. Manslaughter in the second-degree means recklessly, but not intentionally causing the death of another person, under state law.

"It's undisputed it was an accidental shooting and he shot his best friend," Grizopoulos said outside court. "He's distraught about it. They were best friends and they spent every day together. It's just a hard, hard lesson learned that even if a gun is unloaded, you need to treat it as loaded."

Moscoso-Hernandez was taken to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip, where he died at 11 p.m. after surgery, prosecutors said.

Police found a gun under Ventura-Ramirez's bed that appeared to be made with a 3D printer with no serial number, prosecutors said. A shell casing was lodged in the gun that did not exit properly when the gun fired, Chiuchiolo said.

Prosecutors said he also had a magazine with at least two 9 mm bullets created using a 3D printer on Ventura-Ramirez's bed under a blanket. Police also recovered a bag with 16 rounds of ammunition and a spring used to build a gun, as well as a 3D printer in his room.

At first, prosecutors said Ventura-Ramirez told police that Moscoso-Hernandez was holding the gun and shot himself.

Police later found photos and videos of him using the gun, leading him to tell police he bought the gun a few weeks ago and bought ammunition that morning.

"He did however admit he pointed the gun at his friend and pulled the trigger, but said he had taken the magazine out and did not believe there was any ammunition," Chiuchiolo said. "Nevertheless, he shot him directly square in the chest, killing him."

Ventura Ramirez had no prior criminal record. Judge F. Scott Carrigan set bail at $100,009 cash or $300,000 bond.

He also ordered him to surrender his passport and be under home confinement except for counseling, with a GPS monitor.

If convicted, Ventura-Ramirez could face a maximum of 5 to 15 years in prison.

Grizopoulos said he hoped Ventura-Ramirez received counseling while awaiting charges. He said Moscoso-Hernandez's parents were on their way to court and supported the defendant and his family.

"At 20 years old and having just literally watched his best friend die, he's going to need support from friends and family," Grizopoulos said. "They were very close and the family is in support of each other. It's very clear this was an accident."

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.