A northwest Houston man remains in custody today after fatally shooting a teenager Sunday night with what he apparently believed was an unloaded pistol, police said.

Allison Aubrecht, 17, died after she was shot about 5:30 p.m. during a party at a home in the 6500 block of Westview.

Six to eight people, in their teens to early 20s, were at the home when Robert Odom, 20, began waving a small-caliber pistol about the room, Houston police said.

Believing the gun to be unloaded, Odom placed it against the back of Aubrecht's head and pulled the trigger, investigators said.

She died at the scene.

Odom was among three people who had been leasing the home. Police believe Aubrecht also occasionally stayed there.

Investigators found evidence of drug and alcohol use during a search of the home, but did not say whether they believe it played a part in the shooting.

"There were no arguments and no fights prior to the incident," said homicide Sgt. R.D. Chandler.

Odom was arrested and charged with manslaughter. He remains in the Harris County Jail with bail set at $30,000.