Police and prosecutors are skeptical of a Butler County teenager’s story about accidentally shooting and killing a childhood friend with a shotgun he did not believe was loaded.

Nagging questions feed that skepticism, authorities admit, particularly the extent of the relationship between the accused and the victim.

Investigators also are looking into whether 18-year-old Eric Rutledge momentarily delayed calling 911 Tuesday night after he allegedly shot Courtney Rose Daily in an upstairs bedroom of his Seven Fields home.

His giving authorities at least two different accounts about what happened stirs suspicion, too, they said.

Rutledge remains in the Butler County Prison without bail, charged in Daily’s death earlier this week.

Cranberry Township police said the defendant admitted he shot Daily, 18, a friend visiting from Colorado, after they both talked about whether either had the nerve to shoot someone.

Daily was flown by a medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:32 a.m. Wednesday.

“The investigation is far from over,” said Christine Studeny, an assistant district attorney who is prosecuting the case. “We’re still waiting for the autopsy report, ballistics report, further interviews with people who knew (Rutledge and Daily).”

“I don’t think (his story) makes sense,” said Richard Goldinger, district attorney. “It’s hard to fathom what he said actually happened.”