Your post truly depends on your personal definition of mistake.  A mistake is not mutually exclusive to whether or not said mistake contains an "innocent" party or circumstance as you imply.


mis·take
məˈstāk/Submit
noun
1.
an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong.

Seems like both of these young men made really bad mistakes.  
Very sad for the people of Cordova and more specifically the family  and friends of these young men.  My heart goes out to all of you.