Briefly... CITY/REGION

Accidental shooting kills teen

A teen is dead in what police ruled an accidental shooting in West Oak Lane last night. About 8 p.m., police believe, a 17-year-old boy, or a friend, was playing with the handgun inside a bedroom in a house at Smedley Street near Godfrey Avenue when it accidentally went off, striking the teen in the head. The teen was pronounced dead roughly a half-hour later. Authorities recovered a weapon, but have reported no arrests.

3 injured in West Oak Lane

Three people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds after a triple shooting last night in West Oak Lane, police said. The shooting occurred shortly before 11 p.m. on 18th Street near Cheltenham Avenue, police said. Police reported no arrests or motive.

Service program kickoff

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Mayor Nutter will kick off the city's "United We Serve" program at 3:30 p.m. today at the Cozen PAL Center, 732 N. 17th St. Holder is here to help announce a new statewide volunteer initiative as part of President Obama's "United We Serve" summer service program.

Gang 'general' gets 30 years

Shawn Cook, a reputed South Jersey gang leader who admitted shooting gang associates in 2006, has been sentenced in Burlington County Court to 30 years in prison.

The 26-year-old Camden resident, said to have been a "three-star general" in the Bloods, pleaded guilty in April to aggravated manslaughter, attempted murder and aggravated assault charges. In return, Burlington County prosecutors agreed to drop murder charges.

Cook admitted carrying out the shootings in Camden and Willingboro that left one man dead and another injured, on orders of Tarell "Trigger" Ambrose, an alleged four-star Bloods general who was sentenced earlier this month to 22 years in prison.

Camden man, 28, fatally shot

Julius Caesar Heigh, 28, of Camden, was shot several times and killed Thursday night on Morton Street, in Camden. Anyone with information about the crime is urged to contact Camden County Prosecutor's Office Investigator Jeff Long at 856-225-8400, or Camden Police Detective Angel Nieves at 856-757-7420.

Emergency calls vs. work

The New Jersey Assembly Budget Committee is expected to give final consideration today to legislation that would bar employers from firing or suspending employees who don't report to work because they're providing emergency services.

Firefighters, rescue squad members and other volunteer emergency responders would benefit from the legislation. The bill would not require employers to pay the worker for the missed day. But employees would be able to charge their absence as a paid vacation or sick day. *

- Staff and wire reports