Complaint: Man charged in fatal Riverwest shooting was trying to demonstrate how to disassemble gun

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee man has been charged in the Riverwest shooting that killed an Illinois man.

It happened near Humboldt and Center on Monday, May 27. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as 21-year-old Hunter Nachreiner of Woodstock, Illinois.

John Huff, 21, is charged with homicide by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. 

According to the criminal complaint, Huff was a passenger in a vehicle the victim was driving. It says Huff and the victim had been out with a group of friends and were on the way to a different location, with Huff seated directly behind the victim in the vehicle. 

Investigators spoke to Huff on scene, who said that he did not know he had a round in the chamber of his gun, and he was taking the top slide off of his firearm when it accidentally discharged, striking his friend in the back. 

On May 28, detectives interviewed Huff, who stated that he'd known Nachreiner for about three years. While in the car, Huff and another person were talking about his gun, and he wanted to show the person that he could disassemble it and knew what he was doing, according to the complaint.

It says Huff stated in part, "I was just an idiot. I was trying to take it apart. I usually don't carry a round in the chamber, and so I pulled the slide back, locked it back, and I didn't take the mag out, that was my problem..."

When asked if he knew his weapons safety rules, Huff reportedly stated, "Don't point your gun at anything you don't intend to destroy, and always treat your weapon like it's loaded."

In court Friday, May 31, cash bond was set at $5,000. 

A preliminary hearing is set for June 5.