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Mother of teen who took selfie with dead friend has message for victim's parents

JEANNETTE, Pa. — A teenager was found guilty of third-degree murder for shooting another teen in the face and then taking a selfie with the dying boy.

Maxwell Morton was convicted last week in the death of 16-year-old Ryan Mangan in February 2015.

During the trial, Morton testified that he pointed the gun, pulled the trigger and thought it would just click, but instead he shot Mangan in the face in his Jeannette home.

For the first time since her son was convicted, Honey Morton spoke one-on-one with Channel 11 News and publicly apologized to Mangan’s family.

"I'm just so sorry,” Honey Morton said. “I can't bring Ryan back. It’s just tragic. Two young lives (are) just gone.”

Honey Morton said she feel tremendous grief for Mangan’s family and is grappling with the reality that her son will head to prison for up to 40 years. She said she hasn't spoken with Mangan's family, but she said she’s remorseful and thinks about them often.

"I'm so sorry. My heart goes out to them. I pray for them every day. I pray for her to have the tiniest bit of peace that she can go through the day,” she said.

Honey Morton said her son is a good child who loves family and playing football and video games, but she said he made a stupid, horrible mistake in February 2015.

"Max didn't mean to do this,” she said. “He's hurting. He hurts."

Prosecutors said had Maxwell Morton called 911 sooner and not taken the selfie, Mangan may have survived.

Honey Morton said she doesn’t know why her son took the photo. She said her son must deal with the consequences, but she wishes she could have done something.

“(A) tragedy happened. (I) just wish it could've been prevented,” she said.

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