A McKeesport teen today was sentenced to seven to 20 years in prison for accidentally killing his best friend two years ago.

In April, Allegheny County Judge John A. Zottola convicted Michael J. Brownfield, now 18, of voluntary manslaughter for shooting 14-year-old Matthew Morgan while the friends were playing with a semiautomatic pistol in May 2006. Matthew died of a gunshot to the abdomen.

The victim's mother, Shannon Morgan, read a statement today about how Matthew brought "so much laughter and happiness" to her family, and now his 14-year-old sister and 11-year-old brother live in fear of violence at every turn.

Mr. Brownfield apologized to his friend's family, adding "I lost a lot, too. That was my best friend. Every night, I think I had something to do with Mr. Morgan's death ... I shouldn't have been playing with a gun."