A tragic event unfolded in Rowan County over the weekend, as two teenagers' casual gathering turned deadly. According to the QCNews report, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office revealed that early Saturday morning, a 19-year-old named Colton Adkins called 911 to report he had accidentally shot his friend, Jayden Hicks. First responders found Hicks with a fatal gunshot wound and despite Adkins' attempts at following emergency instructions for life-saving measures, Hicks was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident took place in Adkins’s room where, as stated by Adkins to the investigators, the two were hanging out and listening to music. According to the WCNC report, Adkins picked up a rifle from the corner of the room, pointed it at Hicks, and pulled the trigger under an assumption that the rifle was unloaded. Following this tragic oversight, the Rowan County Sheriff's Office reminded the public of the four rules of firearm safety, emphasizing the importance of always treating guns as if they are loaded and being sure of both the target and what is behind it.
Adkins has since been charged with involuntary manslaughter and is currently being held on a $10,000 bond. WCCB Charlotte adds that Adkins was transported to the Rowan County Detention Center after being charged. The Sheriff's Office is managing the ongoing investigation and is requesting anyone with additional information to contact Detective D. Fero or Detective Sgt. K. Holshouser.
