BROWNSVILLE – An 18-year-old man is in critical condition after officials said he was shot in the chest with a .40 caliber pistol.

It happened around noon on the 2200 block of South Indiana Road, outside of Brownsville.

Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio said the victim’s friend is detained and being questioned for what they’re calling an accidental shooting. But charges could follow for the friend, another 18-year-old man.

Lucio said it’s still unclear right now what the teens were doing with the gun or who it belonged to.

The teen that allegedly shot the gun, put his friend in his vehicle to try to get him to the hospital. Shortly after that, they were involved in a minor crash with another vehicle.

That’s when an ambulance was finally dispatched to the area near Browne Road and Dockberry to help the teen shot.

He was transported to a Brownsville hospital where he remains in critical condition.

Lucio said the gun’s serial number will be sent off to federal authorities to try to determine who owns the gun.

“There was no misunderstanding; there was no violence or anything of that nature. It was just the friends there. I don’t know whether they were drinking or not. I don’t have that information here, but that’s what happened. I do know they were fooling around with a gun and that’s what happened,” Lucio said.

The victim’s friend hasn’t been charged with anything, but the sheriff said he could be facing charges of tampering with evidence, possibly more if the victim does not survive.

Check back for updates.