BOILING SPRINGS — David and Myrtle Parsons will never know what kind of man their son, Michael, could have been.

Michael Parsons, a 17-year-old rising senior at Crest High School, died Saturday at his home at 105 Lindsey Lee Lane in Boiling Springs in what Boiling Springs Police are calling an accidental shooting.

"I just wanted him to grow up to be a good man. And he was on his way," David Parsons said.

Michael was cleaning his Remington hunting rifle at his home around 3 p.m. Saturday when it fired, said Boiling Springs Police Chief Nathan Phillips. The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said Sunday the fatal shooting appeared to be "accidental." His family sees it the same way.

David and Myrtle Parsons were on their way to Fort Bragg when they received a frantic call from their daughter, Rebecca Parsons, 19, telling them what happened. Rebecca Parsons was the only other person at the home at the time. Rebecca and Michael Parsons were watching a movie when the incident happened.

David Parsons and his wife clung to one another Sunday as they spoke about the tragic event that claimed their son's life.

"I always told him, 'Never trust a gun you didn't clear yourself,'" David Parsons said through tears.

David Parsons, an Army veteran, said he taught his son about firearms, and made his son take hunting and gun safety courses before handling weapons. David Parsons questioned how this could have happened to his best friend, his "little boy."

He was the youngest of four children and had captured his parent's hearts as soon as he was born.

"Truly, God blessed us with him," Myrtle Parsons said.

Before he was born, Myrtle Parsons dedicated the Lynyrd Skynyrd song, "Simple Man," to him — knowing he was going to be the kind of person who enjoyed the simple things in life.

Micheal spent the first three years of his life abroad in Italy, where his dad was stationed. One of his favorite places to eat on base was Burger King, and he could find one anywhere he went, David Parsons said.

Michael was a quiet child growing up and kept his quiet nature into his teenage years, surrounding himself with family, a close knit group of friends and his constant companion, his rottweiler-German shepherd dog, Mable, his father said.

"I don't know how I'm going to break it to her (Mable)," David Parsons said.

An outdoorsman who loved video games and learned the alphabet by learning the names of dinosaurs, Michael was a teenager who knew a little bit about everything, his mother said.

"He was always happy," she said.

A neighbor, who wished to remain unnamed, always saw Michael and his family happy together.

Michael was expected to get his license this year and was looking forward to starting welding classes this fall. He dreamed of becoming a welder in the future and had already planned on going to Cleveland Community College after high school to get his certificate and training, David Parsons said.

Michael's teachers from Crest High School visited the family, who is staying at the American Inn while their home is cleaned.

"They wouldn't even let us back into the house," David Parsons choked out.

"There is a hole in my heart. I just don't want to go on," Myrtle Parsons said.

His family was thankful their son had been saved and attended Victory Baptist Church in Lattimore.

Michael leaves behind his mother and father; his older sisters, Rebecca, Krystal and Jessica; and a 6-year-old niece.

"I'm just grateful for the 17 years that we had him," David Parsons said.