Man fatally shot by friend in West Park, BSO says

The Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a man who was shot in the face by a friend early Friday morning in West Park in southwest Broward.

According to deputies, Travis Lee, 31, tried to unload a shotgun that discharged a bullet in the direction of Richard Andrews, 34. The two were working on a white Buick that was backed into Andrews’ sister’s home. Both men were armed: Andrews with a semiautomatic handgun, Lee with a shotgun.

Lee moved the loaded shotgun to a black Cadillac that was parked in the opposite direction of the Buick. He was attempting to conceal the weapon from a passerby, police say.

According to police, Lee tried to put the weapon in the trunk, but it fired. The bullet shot through the trunk and hit Andrews in the face. The Broward Sheriff’s Office received a call around 9 a.m. By the time Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue arrived at the scene, Andrews was pronounced dead.

Both men have a history of arrests. Lee’s criminal history includes charges of grand theft, grand theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of various illegal substances and several probation violations.

BSO has charged Lee with manslaughter with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

This story was originally published April 10, 2015 at 10:08 PM with the headline "Man fatally shot by friend in West Park, BSO says."