Las Vegas man acquitted of murder in close friend’s killing

A 22-year-old man was exonerated Friday afternoon after sitting in jail for three years and standing accused of shooting his close friend.

Ashton Varner was indicted on murder and robbery charges in 2014, one year after 17-year-old Christopher Richard died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Prosecutors had said Varner fired one shot from a revolver into Richard’s head, then stole his iPhone. Varner told police he sold the gun to a gang member for $130.

But during a trial that concluded Friday, defense attorneys said the two were instead playing a game of Russian roulette together when Richard accidentally shot himself.

After it happened, defense attorney Frank Cofer told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Varner “was young and made a stupid mistake and grabbed the gun.”

When the verdict was read aloud in court Friday, Varner stood in shock.

“I think that he’s actually still in shock right now,” Cofer said. “He was standing dazed, unable to believe he was about to be set free.”

Contact Rachel Crosby at rcrosby@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-8135. Follow @rachelacrosby on Twitter.