A tragic firearm mishap in DeKalb County has ended in the death of a 19-year-old man and the incarceration of Quintavious Wilkes, also 19, on charges of involuntary manslaughter. The DeKalb County police department reported that the shooting occurred in a car, loaded with passengers, taking place on the evening before police arrived on the scene in the 1800 block of Shawn Wayne Court, according to Atlanta News First.
Details provided, by DeKalb County police and subsequently covered by Atlanta News First, reveal that the officers responded to the shooting just before 10 p.m last Friday. Upon their arrival, they discovered the young man suffering from a gunshot wound to his back, a wound that would later herald his end at the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The identity of the victim has remained private amid ongoing investigations.
In an unfortunate turn of events, the shooting appears to have occurred inside a vehicle and is believed to have been accidental. WSBTV reports that according to DeKalb police, the trigger was pulled by a passenger seated at the rear of the vehicle, inadvertently resulting in the fatality.
The individual responsible for the discharge, which the police have cited as unintended, now faces charges for his role in the heartbreaking incident. DeKalb County Jail records confirm that Wilkes, the alleged shooter, was arrested and booked on the following Saturday. As the community comes to terms with this unexpected tragedy, investigators are working diligently to understand the events that precipitated this unfortunate incident.
