An 18 year old rural Wells County man who was in critical condition after being shot in the head yesterday afternoon while cleaning handguns with his 19 year old friend has died.

According to the Indiana State Police, at approximately 1:15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, the Heath Bumgarner and his 19 year old friend were at a residence on West County Road 600 N, just outside of Markle, when the incident occurred. Police say that as the two young men were cleaning handguns, an apparent accidental discharge occurred. As a result, Garner was shot in the head with what appeared to be a .45 caliber bullet from the handgun that his 19 year old friend was handling.

The victim was taken immediately to a Fort Wayne hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. He died in the hospital on Sunday afternoon. No arrests have been made and while this appears to be an apparent accidental shooting, an investigation into the incident is under way.  The victim’s name and that of his friend are being withheld.