The weekend shooting death of a young man by another has been called a tragic accident by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office.
Webster 911 records show the report of the shooting was received at 12:41 a.m. Sunday. It occurred outside a house on Mantee Road with deputies, NMMC-Eupora Emergency Medical Services and Cumberland emergency medical responders being dispatched.
Sgt. Brandon Chaille of the Sheriff’s Office said responding deputies arrived to find an individual deceased from a gunshot wound. The WCSO did not identify the victim at this time out of concern for the family’s privacy, but Chaille confirmed that he was a 19-year-old male who lived at the residence.
The deputy said the victim was accidentally shot by another man but did not give the type of firearm involved. Sheriff David Gore told WCBI News the two men knew each other and were known to shoot guns together. Chaille called the accidental death a tragedy.
Webster County Jail records show Austin Crowley, also 19, was brought in Sunday morning on an investigative hold. After conducting a full and thorough investigation, and based upon the advice of the District Attorney’s Office, Chaille said Crowley was charged Monday with negligent manslaughter in the victim’s death.
Monday afternoon, Crowley was released on an unsecured bond of $25,000 set by Justice Court Judge Rebecca Ellison. An initial court appearance is pending.
