Mason killed at initiation; another member is charged
Other member faces manslaughter charge
PATCHOGUE, N.Y. -- A man was killed during a Masonic initiation ceremony when another member fired a gun loaded with real bullets instead of the expected blanks and shot him in the face, police said yesterday.
A 76-year-old man alleged to have fired the shot was charged with manslaughter.
William James, 47, was shot while participating in an induction Monday night at the Southside Masonic Lodge, Suffolk County police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detective Lieutenant Jack Fitzpatrick said the ritual that went "tragically wrong" involves making a loud noise to frighten the new member.
The alleged shooter, Albert Eid had two guns -- one with blanks, one with bullets -- and apparently pulled the wrong one from his pocket and fired, shooting James in the face, the lieutenant said. 