Manslaughter charge declined against 18-year-old in connection with teen's shooting death

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A grand jury failed to indict an 18-year-old who was accused of manslaughter following the shooting death of his 16-year-old friend.

The case stems from a shooting on Aug. 21, 2023, when Emmanuel "Manuel" Delgado was reportedly driving with three other teens in the car before he was shot and killed along Wallisville Road.

Authorities initially said the gun unintentionally went off but later charged Fabian Valdez with shooting Delgado.

SEE PREVIOUS REPORT: 18-year-old accused of discharging gun, killing friend while driving in northeast Harris County

An 18-year-old has been arrested in connection to his 16-year-old friend's shooting death on Aug. 21 at an intersection in NE Harris County.

"He was shot and killed. He didn't shoot himself," Emmanuel's cousin, Adan Delgado, told ABC13 in September.

Delgado was a junior at C.E. King High School, according to his family.

"It hurts a lot. We're in pain. He was so young. He didn't deserve that," Emmanuel's other cousin, Palmira Delgado, said.

Valdez and his family reportedly lived across the street from Emmanuel's family and were all friends.

Court records show the jury returned a no-bill on the case and failed to indict Valdez last month.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Gun goes off in car with 4 teens inside, killing 16-year-old driver in NE Harris Co., sheriff says

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said it appears the teen driver was handling a pistol before he rear-ended another car, though it's possible one of the passengers was the one with the gun.