KENTUCKY — A 27-year-old man is facing criminal charges after a deadly shooting in west Louisville that authorities say may have been accidental.
According to the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), officers were called around 9:36 p.m. May 1 to a home in the 600 block of South 38th Street on a report of a shooting.
When officers arrived, they found a man inside the home suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency medical services pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
Police identified the suspect as Jared Fields, who allegedly called 911 shortly after the shooting and reported his location on Grand Avenue. Officers responded and took him into custody without incident.
During an interview with detectives, Fields said he and the victim were inside the home discussing a handgun he had brought with him. He told investigators he believed the gun was not loaded when he pointed it at the victim and pulled the trigger, striking him.
Fields told police the victim was a friend and described the shooting as accidental.
A witness at the home told investigators there had been no argument or disturbance prior to the gunshot. The witness reported hearing a single shot and returning to find the victim on the ground while Fields had left the scene.
Fields has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and fourth-degree assault, classified as domestic violence with minor injury. A judge set his bond at $100,000 cash. He is scheduled to be arraigned May 4.
The investigation remains ongoing.
