VIDALIA — A Ferriday man was given five years in prison for fatally shooting a teenager during what he represented to investigators as a prank gone wrong.

Judge John Reeves sentenced Henry Plains Jr., 22, 353 Bayou Drive, Ferriday, to five years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections — with one year suspended with credit for time served —  for negligent homicide.

He had pleaded guilty to the charge, which resulted from the July 2014 death of 15-year-old Lakitress Williams, in March.

Plains was initially charged with manslaughter following the incident, but a Concordia Parish grand jury later indicted him on the charge of negligent homicide.

Williams died of a gunshot wound to the chest, with the bullet entering his chest and exiting through his lower back.

During the initial investigation, Plains reportedly told investigators he had been sitting with a 9-mm pistol in his lap when Williams entered the residence at 406 Vidalia Drive in Ridgecrest, startling him in a way that led to the shooting.

Plains reportedly later changed his story, saying he had been teasing Williams about sucking his thumb and pointed the gun at him in an attempt to scare him.

Plains told investigators he believe the gun was unloaded when he pulled the trigger that fired the fatal bullet.

Five years prison and a $5,000 fine is the maximum penalty for negligent homicide.