Driving around with drunks to the point where you are passing out, shooting a gun out a window at targets, using a gun as a crowbar, and finally driving up Gerald Stanley's property to his yard driving on a rim and trying to get into vehicles, is all dangerous behavior that can get you killed. It happened to be Gerald's bullet that killed Colton. He could just as easily have died in a rollover, (drunken driving is illegal because it is deadly). He could have died when the gun was being used as a crowbar. He could have killed someone while target shooting recklessly. He wasn't just a little tipsy.
Anyone breaking into your neighbour's house is taking their life in their hands. Simple as that.
That doesn't mean Gerald is any the less responsible. Gerald being responsible, even if accidently, doesn't negate the fact that Colton and his friends made a habit of dangerous behaviors. Colton did not foresee that he could be fatally shot. What do you think he would have done if he had foreseen the possibility?
Gerald alone is responsible for Colton's death. He held the gun. He failed to handle it safely. It doesn't matter that he thought it was empty. As I understand it you are never ever supposed to point a gun at someone even if you are convinced it is empty. He didn't point it on purpose but he still didn't keep it pointed at the ground.
I think it is important for young people like Colton to know that their risky behavior can lead to death. Even if Gerald had been convicted Colton would still be dead.