Police charged Southold resident Ryan Lademann, also 26, with second-degree assault, a felony, at about 9:45 p.m. for allegedly shooting his friend, Lukasz Pasko, in the neck with a rifle at Mr. Lademann's Pine Neck Road residence, police reported.
Officers on the scene said they found Mr. Pasko, a 2002 graduate of Southold High School, on a couch with a gunshot wound on the left side of his neck, not breathing but with a pulse. Southold Fire Department rescue workers responded, treated and took him to Eastern Long Island Hospital. He was then taken to Stony Brook University Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition, Southold Town Police Capt. Martin Flatley said. Pasko died on Saturday.
Capt. Flatley described the incident as "more of an accident." Mr. Lademann, a 2002 graduate of Mattituck High School, told police he was cleaning his gun and it accidentally discharged.
There were witnesses in the room who confirmed that Mr. Lademann was "cleaning the gun or taking it apart" before the shooting took place, Capt. Flatley said. He added that an accidental shooting that causes serious injury is considered "reckless" and fits into a section of law that qualifies it for the felony charge.
Mr. Lademann was held overnight at police headquarters and arraigned on Sunday before Judge William Price, who released him on his own recognizance.
The district attorney's office "recommended $250,000 bail," Capt. Flatley said, adding that he believed the district attorney was looking for a grand jury indictment but "that all depends on Mr. Pasko's physical condition. And it does not look good."
A prayer Mass was held for Mr. Pasko Monday night at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue.
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eschultz@timesreview.com