12-year-old shot & killed when brother unintentionally discharges shotgun

12-year-old Halee Marshall, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky,  was helping her 20-year-old brother unpack his pickup truck and move things into the house. The brother's girlfriend was also helping.

According to the county coroner, there was a shotgun hanging on a gun rack in the truck.  As the brother was handing the gun to his girlfriend the gun unintentionally discharged.

The brother told police he had cleaned the weapon and didn't realize the gun had been reloaded.

Halee was shot in the face.  She was pronounced dead at the scene.

"It was accidental," said the coroner. "No drugs or alcohol was involved."

Teen unintentionally shoots himself with gun in his pocket

18-year-old Steven Franklin, of Covington, Kentucky, was carrying a loaded .22 caliber revolver in his pocket.  When he sat down the gun unintentionally discharged and shot Franklin in the leg.

Franklin was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Covington Police declared the incident an accident and no charges were filed.

Sheriff's deputy unintentionally shoots mother during wedding ceremony

Cory Golightly is a sheriff's deputy in the McCracken County Sheriff's Department in Kentucky. He was off-duty, attending a wedding with his mother at the Bardwell Baptist Church in Carlisle County when he dropped his gun.

According to witnesses, Golightly was adjusting his jacket and the gun and holster fell out. The gun discharged when it hit the floor. The bullet hit his mother.

Golightly's mother was taken to the hosptial and is said to be in stable condition.

The pianist at the wedding said Golightly was very composed throughout the incident.  "He said, 'Mom, breathe and be calm. Be calm," she said.

Golightly has been placed on paid leave while the incident is investigated.

Kentucky police officer unintentionally shoots self in elevator

Surveillance video captured an off-duty Kentucky police officer unintentionally shooting himself in an elevator in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The officer, Darryl Jouett of Erlanger, Kentucky, was in the elevator with his wife.

The video shows Jouett fumbling with a gun while holding a box.  The gun discharges and shoots him in his abdomen.  Jouett falls to his knees before stumbling out of the elevator and clutching a wall.

Jouett was taken to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. He was kept overnight and released the next morning.

Jouett is a 25-year veteran of the police force.

Kentucky state representative unintentionally fires gun in Capitol building

Kentucky State Representative Leslie Combs (D - Pikeville) was unloading a Ruger LCP .380 handgun in her office in the state Capitol building in Frankfort when she unintentionally discharged the gun.

The bullet struck the floor and ricocheted into a bookcase. Representative Jeff Greer (D - Brandenburg) was also in the room at the time. No one was hurt in the incident.

Combs told reporters that she was putting the gun away at the time of the incident. "I was purposely disarming it to put it up because I didn't like it and I didn't want to use it any more. I had had it in my purse I carry usually. I was particularly careful. Rep. Greet was on the other side of the room. No one was in harm's way. I made sure of that."

Combs has a concealed weapons permit for the gun. The state allows permit holders to carry loaded, hidden guns into the Capitol.

The State Police said no charges will be filed because there was no criminal intent.

"I thought it was totally clear," Combs added. "I am a gun owner. It happens."

Two men injured with one bullet in unintentional shooting

22-year-old Matthew Goins and 22-year-old William Bennett, of London, Kentucky were target shooting with a handgun when the gun jammed. While trying to clear the weapon the gun unintentionally discharged.
The bullet hit Goins in the hand and Bennett in the leg. They were taken to the local hospital where they were treated and released.
Police classified the incident as an accidental shooting and no charges are expected to be filed.

Man unintentionally kills his brother, distraught he then kills himself

19-year-old Kody Thacker, of Somerset, Kentucky, had spent the night at a friend's house with his brother, 24-year-old Kyle. Kyle was asleep in a recliner in the living room and Kody was on a nearby couch.
At about 9:20 in the morning, Kody picked up a 12-gauge shot gun and unintentionally discharged the gun, hitting Kyle in the head, killing him instantly. Distraught over what had happened, Kody turned the gun on himself and took his life.
Neighbors say their hearts go out to the family who now has to deal with losing two loved ones in one day.

Man unintentionally shoots and kills girlfriend's 3-year-old son

21-year-old Nicholas Barbee, of Paducah, Kentucky, bought a gun for protection in response to an increase in break-ins in his neighborhood. Saturday afternoon he was taking the gun from a cabinet when he unintentionally discharged the firearm, shooting 3-year-old Braydion Matlock.
Braydion was shot in the head. He was airlifted to the medical center in Nashville, Tennessee, but died Saturday night.
Barbee, who is Braydion's mother's boyfriend, admitted to police that he unintentional shot the boy. He has been charged with manslaughter.
According to Braydion's obituary, his favorite movie was "Cars" and he enjoyed baseball and basketball.

Teenager curious about revolver unintentionally shoots friend

A teenager unintentionally shot his 14-year-old friend in the stomach while holding his grandfather's revolver. The two boys, and another friend, had crawled into the grandfather's house through a window, knowing the grandfather was out of town, because they were curious about the gun.
While the boy was holding the revolver he tripped and unintentionally discharged the gun. The victim was airlifted to the hospital where he underwent surgery.
Tom Cooper, the grandfather and gun owner, told reporters that he had left the unlocked, loaded gun on top of his refrigerator. He said he owned the gun for protection and keeps it unlocked and within reach in case he needs it.
"I actually shot at a person or two," he said.
Cooper assumed his grandson was responsible because he had taken a hunting course a few months ago and had learned all about firearms.
"The gun was off limits but it wasn't locked up all the time," said Cooper.
The incident is under investigation.

2 injured in unintentional shooting at gun show

Two men, ages 20 and 27, were attending a gun show in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. According to police, one of the men had just purchased a 9mm Highpoint semi-automatic handgun and was attempting to load it when he unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The bullet went through the man's hand and struck the other man in the buttocks.
The men drove to the hospital where they were treated. Police were then called, but they don't anticipate filing any charges in the incident.

18-year-old unintentionally shoots best friend in the head while hanging weapons on a wall

18-year-old Louis Dercqu, of Rineyville, Kentucky, was with his best friend, 19-year-old Shelby Langley. The two teens were hanging weapons on a wall for display in Shelby's room. Louis was handling a .22 caliber rifle when he unintentionally discharged the gun, shooting Shelby in the head.
"It was a very, very tragic accident, no other way of putting it," said Shelby's mother.
"He was a cancer survivor, a volunteer fire fighter, had a job that he loved, got his dream car last year from his mommy and dad, and was getting ready to start Spencerian College this month," added Shelby's godmother. "He had his life planned out."
Police are investigating the incident. Shelby's family does not want charges filed against Louis.
"My heart breaks for my son and the loss, and my heart breaks for what Louis is having to live with," said Shelby's mother.

Teenagers target shooting with a variety of guns wound a nearby nursing home worker

Two 18-year-old boys were shooting guns in a wooded area in Flatwoods, Kentucky. One of the bullets traveled 250 yards and struck an employee and a car at a local nursing home.
The employee was shot in the arm and has been treated and released from the hospital. He was in the parking lot when he was shot.

After tracing the path of the bullet police found a small arsenal of weapons believed to have been used in the shooting. Police seized pistols,rifles, military-style assault rifles and plenty of ammunition after finding trees chews up by gunfire and maybe 50 spent shell casings from five different caliber weapons.
The gunshots were heard by many in the nearby community and a local elementary school was placed on lockdown while the incident was investigated.
The local police have turned the investigation over to the prosecutor. "We'll see what happens," said the police chief. "Some serious charges may be filed in this."

Two separate incidents in Kentucky where men unintentionally shot through apartment floor into apartment below

23-year-old Scotty Scruggs, of Louisville, Kentucky, unintentionally fired a shot from his .40-caliber Glock that went through the floor of his apartment into the apartment below. The bullet narrowly missed hitting the occupant of the apartment.
Scruggs left the scene after the incident, which happened around 10:30 in the morning, and did not check on his neighbor. He later turned himself into police and was charged with wanton endangerment.
Later in the week,just a few miles away, 44-year-old Charles Hatchell, also of Louisville, was cleaning his gun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon, sending a bullet through the floor into the apartment below. The bullet almost hit a man sitting at his dining room table.
Hatchell admitted to drinking earlier in the evening. Police found the gun under his bed. Hatchell also neglected to check on his neighbor, telling police he was afraid of what he might find.
Hatchell was charged with wanton endangerment and tampering with evidence.

Two men unintentionally shot and killed by man cleaning handgun

25-year-old Kevin McElrath, of London, Kentucky was cleaning his .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun at his home in the early hours of Thursday morning. He took the magazine out of the gun and didn't realize there was a bullet still in the chamber. Kevin unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet struck him in the head and then kept going. It then struck his friend, 22-year-old Eric Partain, in the head.
Kevin died at the scene. Eric was airlifted to the hospital in Lexington where he died later in the day.
"I've never seen anything as tragic as this," said a sheriff's spokesperson. "A very unusual case."

2-year-old finds gun in console of family car, shoots and kills herself

2-year-old Addison Tussey, of Sandy Hook, Kentucky, was out to dinner with her family at a restaurant in Ashland. Her mother, Brandy, took Addison and another child out to the car while her father, Gary, stayed to pay the bill.
As Brandy was putting the infant in the car seat Addison was playing in the front seat where she found a small caliber handgun in the center console. The mother reported she heard a 'pop' and looked to see Addison slumped over the passenger seat. Addison had fired the gun, shooting herself in the left cheek. She was rushed to a trauma center in Huntington but died of her injuries.
Police say the gun had been put in the console "on a previous occasion." They are continuing to investigate this "tragic accident."
Too sad.

Owner of handgun sued in fatal unintentional shooting of 12-year-old

12-year-old Darius Tucker and his 14-year-old half-brother found three semi-automatic handguns belonging to their mother's boyfriend in her apartment in Newburg, Kentucky. The guns had been placed, loaded and unlocked, behind a lip on top of a 6-foot-tall entertainment center. The boys took the guns, two .25-caliber and one 9mm, down and each took a gun and began playing with them. Darius pointed his gun at his brother and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. Tragically, when the older brother aimed his gun at Darius the gun fired. Darius died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Darius' parents have filed suit against John O'Bryan and O'Bryan's homeowner insurance carrier, State Farm General Insurance Co. The lawsuit claims O'Bryan "improperly, carelessly and negligently stored his firearms and ammunition" and that he "created a dangerous condition by failing to follow safety precautions and warnings about storing weapons and ammunition in homes where children live."
Darius' mother, who still lives with O'Bryan, said she meant to file suit only against State Farm. But, as her attorney pointed out, O'Bryan has to be named because he is the insured person, but that State Farm would be responsible for paying damages.
Ohh shoot.

Man unintentionally shot in face while twirling guns "cowboy style" with friend

26-year-old Matthew Richie of Lexington, Kentucky was with a friend twirling loaded handguns "cowboy style" when one of the weapons unintentionally discharged. Richie was shot in the face. He was transported to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital where he is listed in critical condition.
Police are investigating the incident.
Ohh shoot.

Mother, father, one-month old baby injured when shotgun pellets come through wall

19-year-old Michael Southerland was unloading a shotgun at a home in Harlan, Kentucky when the gun unintentionally discharged. The shotgun pellets penetrated the wall into the next room and struck three people.
Injured were 25-year-old Jason Maggard, his wife, 25-year-old Carrie and their one-month-old baby Ashley. Ashely was flown to University Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville, Jason was flown to University of Kentucky Hospital and Carrie was treated locally at Harlan Hospital. All three victims have been released from the hospitals.
The average cost of an air ambulance service is $10,000.
Ohh shoot.

Mom's boyfriend put gun on top of entertainment center, didn't think the kids knew it was there......

Twelve-year-old Darius T. was shot in the chest and killed by his half brother while the two were playing with a 9mm handgun. The gun belonged to Darius' mother's boyfriend.
The boyfriend said he thought the gun was in a safe place because he put it on top of a six foot entertainment center in the living room. He didn't think the kids knew the gun was there.
No charged will be filed in the shooting because attorneys say the gun was able to fire even while the safety was on.
Ohh shoot.

Three unintentional shootings in Kentucky just days apart, two dead

A 15-year-old boy and some of his friends were looking at a gun in a home in Mortons Gap, Kentucky. One of the friends unintentionally discharged the gun shooting the boy in the face. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
18-year-old Sarah N. was sitting on a front porch with friends in Wheatcroft, Kentucky. They were "looking at a firearm" when the gun went off, hitting Sarah in the neck. The friends told police they didn't realize the gun was loaded. Sarah was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two juveniles in Daviess County, Kentucky were firing a shotgun at targets. A stray shot crossed the road and struck a man in a church parking lot. The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The Sheriff's office is investigating to determine what if any charges apply.
Ohh shoot.