An 18-year-old man died of gunshot injuries Thursday evening after a gun discharged and he was hit in the chest at a Gay Street home in Tamaqua. Another man has been charged in the incident.

According to Tamaqua Police Chief Henry Woods, police were dispatched to 104 Gay St. at 3:08 p.m. for a report of a gunshot victim.

Officers found the victim, Eric Tavener, lying on the front porch of the home with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Witnesses at the scene said Tavener had been shot by Francis Witmayer.

Witmayer was sitting in his vehicle, which was parked on Lafayette Street a short distance from the scene. Witmayer was approached by police and taken into custody without incident.

Police also recovered a semi-automatic handgun from the vehicle.

An investigation was conducted into the incident and police learned that the shooting had taken place in a third floor bedroom at 104 Gay St.

Witnesses said Tavener had been in possession of the firearm which belonged to Witmayer. Tavener had been playing with the gun and Witmayer had asked him to give it back to him. Witmayer retrieved the firearm and attempted to disassemble it. While doing so, the firearm went off with the bullet striking Tavener in the chest and exiting out his back.

Tavener, a resident of 104 Gay St., was taken to St. Luke’s Miners Campus in Coaldale by the Tamaqua Ambulance, where he died of his injuries at 5:08 p.m.

Witmayer, of 21 Piersol St., Tamaqua was charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Witmayer was arraigned Thursday night before district justice Christina Hale. He was sent to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Tamaqua Police were assisted by Rush Township Police Department, Coaldale Police, West Penn Police, Pennsylvania State Police R&I Unit and the Tamaqua Ambulance.