Okla. teen: Friends thought gun only held blanks

DUNCAN, Okla. (AP) — One of three boys accused in the fatal shooting of an Australian baseball player last summer sad in court Tuesday that his friends believed the gun used in the crime contained only blanks.

James Francis Edwards Jr. agreed to testify against his co-defendants during a preliminary hearing. In exchange for his testimony continuing through trial, prosecutors said they will drop a murder charge and he would only face an accessory charge.

He told an Oklahoma judge Tuesday that Chancey Luna, 16, shot and killed Christopher Lane, of Melbourne, from a car driven by Michael Dewayne Jones, 18.

Edwards, 16, said he was rolling marijuana cigarettes in the front passenger seat when Luna shot at Lane from the back seat.

The teens later drove to a restaurant, where Luna and Jones exchanged words. According to Edwards, Luna said to Jones that he thought the gun only had blanks inside them. Jones then responded: "Me too. I'm sorry," Edwards said.

Jones and Luna then dropped off Edwards at court for Edwards to sign probation papers related to a juvenile charge, said Edwards, who testified wearing an orange jail jumpsuit.

Prosecutors added an accessory charge against Edwards on Tuesday. According to court documents, Edwards made a phone call from the Stephens County Jail between Aug. 16 and Dec. 31, 2013, and requested someone to dispose of the weapon.

Prosecutors have not determined whether Edwards will be charged as an adult or a youthful offender for the accessory charge.

Lawyers and family members for the three teens left the courtroom Tuesday for a lunch break without commenting. A gag order has been put in place precluding people involved in the case from discussing it outside of court.