WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- A Washington D.C. man admitted to accidentally shooting his friend and burning the body to cover it up, according to charging documents.
Zacchaeus Blanding, 19, made his first appearance in court Thursday on a charge of second-degree for the death of Heineken McNeil.
McNeil was found dead inside a burning trash can in Northeast D.C. on June 23.
According to the charging documents, Blanding told police he was playing with a gun in his bedroom on June 22 while McNeil was with him. When he tried to cock it, the gun fired and hit McNeil. Blanding had thought the safety was on.
Blanding hoped McNeil would "bounce back" and began saying his name. Soon after, Blanding said he wrapped up McNeil and left him in his bedroom, according to the documents.
Blanding says he panicked and ran to the store and bought some duct tape. According to the documents, Blanding saw a trash can and carried it up to his room. He then put McNeil's body in the trash can and dragged the can down the stairs on his own, the documents say.
Blanding allegedly told police that dragging the trash can down the stairs were "the worst 30 minutes" of his life and he almost fell down the steps trying to drag the can down.
Later in the day, Blanding says he bought gasoline and set the trash can on fire, according to the documents.
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