A Blair County teenager has been sentenced to five years of probation for the accidental shooting death of his best friend, Jesse McElhinney.

The shooter was 17-years-old when the incident happened Dec. 26, 2012 and was charged as an juvenile.

McElhinney's family asked the court for leniency, calling the entire thing a tragic accident.

"He didn't deliberately do it," said Beverly Sprankle, McElhinney's grandmother. "He didn't walk up and just shoot him." 

Investigators said the teen shot McElhinney in the temple while showing him a .38-caliber handgun. McElhinney died instantly.

"If you tried him as an adult, he'd be in jail. What good would that be? Why ruin his life?" Sprankle said. 

In addition to probation, the shooter has been ordered to make a documentary video to explain what happened. 

The video will be shown to children to warn them about the dangers of guns. 

Sprankle and her husband Dean said they're glad this is all behind them, but they're still having trouble letting go of their grandson.

"I keep his things thinking he's going to come back home," she said. "I gotta face that he's not coming back."

When the shooter completes probation, he can apply to have his record cleared.