Ex-Georgia Cop Accidentally Shoots Wife Dead

[Lumberjack98]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,334544,00.html



GRIFFIN, Ga. — Griffin police say a former Fulton County sheriff's major accidentally shot and killed his wife while unloading his gun.

Police say 54-year-old Riley Taylor was at a family function when the gun discharged Friday and the bullet struck his wife, 54-year-old Denise Taylor.

Griffin police spokesman Corporal Bryan Clanton says the woman was flown by helicopter to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, where she was pronounced dead.

Clanton says no criminal investigation will be done since the shooting was accidental.

Riley Taylor worked at the Fulton County Sheriff's Department under then-Sheriff Jackie Barrett, who has since retired. He retired from a post at the jail as a lieutenant in 2007 after having his rank reduced by Barrett, who was under fire for financial mismanagement of the department and for deficiencies at the jail.

Shortly after Taylor retired, U.S. District Judge Marvin Shoob chose Taylor to become the auditor of jail records. Shoob is overseeing the jail in response to a lawsuit that charged it was overcrowded, dirty and dangerous.

[HighVelocity]

When the muzzle is pointed in an unsafe direction, it's NOT AN ACCIDENT.

[WildBill]

The news story reports that the shooting occurred at a "family function." That's an odd choice of words. Edited: A later story called it a "family gathering."

[WildBill]

An update from the Griffin Daily News.

Woman killed in accidental shooting
By VIVIAN KING DIXON
Staff Writer
vivian@griffindailynews.com
Posted: Tuesday, March 4, 2008 1:24 AM EST
Email this story | Print this story
A Griffin woman was killed Friday night after being accidentally shot by her husband during a family gathering Friday night on Sunnybrook Drive.

Jason Taylor had just reloaded a .38-caliber handgun when the hammer of the gun stuck in a half-cocked position. His father, Riley Taylor, 54, took control of the gun to fix the problem and, while working on the gun, it discharged. The bullet struck and killed Denise Taylor, 54.

The incident was investigated by the Griffin Police Department and the Spalding County Coroner’s Office.
Cpl. Bryan Clanton, a public information officer with the Griffin Police Department, said there will be no criminal investigation because there was no criminal intent involved.

“This is just one of those things that happens,� Clanton said Monday. “It was a tragic accident.�

[LarryH]

Just shows that even an experienced LEO can forget/violate Rule Number 2.

Bet he wishes he could have taken the bullet for his wife.

Prayers for the whole family.

[dukalmighty]

Is it just me but why is a revolver in a half cock position after loading it,I guess these things just happen?I guess they really shouldn't just happen if people would follow gun safety basics

[LarryH]

If it's a single-action, such as Ruger Blackhawk, you have to cock the hammer to the second notch (of three) to rotate the cylinder to load a cartridge into each chamber.

If it's double-action, beats me.

[Liberty]

When the muzzle is pointed in an unsafe direction, it's NOT AN ACCIDENT.

Are you suggesting it was intentional? As I see it, it was was either intentional or accidental. Not much room for in-between, I do believe there was a lot negligence involved, but it still was accidental rather than intentional or deliberate.

Just semantics I guess, but I believe that an inference that the guy intentionally killed his wife is a bit harsh. I think we all understand that the ex-cop was negligent and careless.