CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Fayette County man said he shot a friend in the face when a gun he was holding unexpectedly discharged Thursday, police said.

Police didn't buy that story and charged Terreque Alj Gray, 23, with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Maurice McCain, 26, according to a criminal complaint filed in Fayette County Magistrate Court.

At about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oak Hill Police Department officers were called to 201 Highlawn Ave. in regard to a shooting.

Oak Hill Police Lt. J.L. Kirk spoke to Gray, who said he accidentally shot McCain inside the house, according to the complaint.

Gray said he was holding a gun as he went to sit down on a chair. McCain, Lindsey Smith and Jonathan Fruit were sitting on a couch nearby.

Gray said as he placed the gun on his left leg it accidentally went off, striking McCain just below the left eye, according to the complaint.

Kirk entered the house and saw a gun lying partially out from underneath the couch and a large bag of marijuana beside the victim, according to the complaint. Paramedics rushed McCain to Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill, where he died Thursday night.

Kirk said in the complaint that the gun discovered, a .40 caliber Sigma handgun, is designed not to discharge accidentally. Officers said they looked at Gray's leg and saw no injuries related to gun recoil or gun residue.

"Based thereon Terreque Gray did purposefully take the life of Maurice McCain," Kirk said in the complaint.

Gray was being held in Southern Regional Jail without bail Friday.

Reach Travis Crum at travis.c...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.