An 18-year-old man died of a shot to his head after playing Russian roulette on Sunday in west Omaha, police reported.

The Omaha teen, identified as Joseph 'Joey' Merolla, agreed to play the game with at least two friends inside an apartment near 120^th and Pacific when he accidentally killed himself.

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The Russian roulette victim was later declared dead at an Omaha hospital.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine provided new information about the teen's death on Thursday explaining that Merolla was the first to take the turn on the roulette.

"I think they had just started. Merolla was the first to take the gun and put it to his head," he stated.

Eighteen-year-old Erik Valencia was one of the many witnesses of the incident. According to reports, he took the gun after the shooting and run off. Because of this, Valencia was arrested for tampering with evidence which was a Class 4 felony.

He was later released on Thursday after posting 10 percent bail of US$4,000 and is scheduled to be back in court on August 26 for preliminary hearing.

According to the Douglas County attorney, investigators found marijuana in the scene of the crime although it was not clear if the victim and the witnesses were under its influence.

Russian roulette-a game of chance proven lethal in the past-entails courage and luck as each player are required to put a single round in a revolver, spin the cylinder, points the muzzle to their head and pull the trigger.

TagsRussian roulette, Omaha, Dead, teen