Off-Duty Cop’s Gun Accidentally Fires, Killing Woman
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ABC News(DETROIT) — A friendly hug at a Detroit house party proved fatal for a woman after she accidentally discharged an off-duty cop’s handgun.
Adaisha Miller, 24, attended a fish fry at the home of an off-duty Detroit police officer on Saturday and, at around midnight, began to hug or dance with the officer from behind and accidentally set off his gun, according to Detroit police chief Ralph Godbee, Jr.
The police department didn’t release the name of the officer, but said that he has been cooperative with an internal investigation launched in the wake of the shooting and is shocked at what happened.
Godbee said that the officer had been concealing his department-issued .40 caliber Smith and Wesson semiautomatic hand gun in a holster in his waistband when Miller placed her hands on his waist. Godbee indicated that Miller had seemingly touched the gun in some way, causing it to fire. There is no safety switch on the weapon, he said.
“I don’t think I’m giving anything away by saying this but for the sake of transparency, it is possible for the trigger to be manipulated with that type of holster,” Godbee said. “Typically the barrel is facing down, but the preliminary investigation indicates that there was some manipulation along the officer’s waistline that he did not control and subsequently the weapon discharged.”
Godbee said that there was no indication from evidence or witnesses that the officer had placed his hand on the weapon. The investigation will include forensic analysis by the Detroit State Police and a medical examiner’s report.
“He is very remorseful of the incident and the tragic nature of this young lady losing her life in the manner she did,” Godbee said.
Miller’s mother, Yolanda McNair, told the Detroit Free Press that she has been told different versions of the events leading up to her daughter’s death and can’t understand why the officer was armed at his own party.
Police department spokeswoman Cassandra Lewis said that the prosecutor’s office would decide whether any charges would be pressed in the case.
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