Court docs: Indy man says gun misfired, shot best friend in head

INDIANAPOLIS - An Indianapolis man reportedly told police that he and several friends were hanging out at a home on Burbank Road when he set his handgun on a dryer and it "misfired," shooting a woman in the head and killing her.

According to multiple witness accounts, Elliot Hines was repeatedly "playing with" a black Taurus handgun just before the deadly shooting occurred on May 30. Witnesses said Hines even pointed the weapon at several of them, even after they'd asked him to stop.

A witness told investigators Hines' handgun was loaded and that he even "cocked" the gun at one point. When the friends all decided to get up and go check on the dogs, Hines told officers he set his gun on the dryer and "must have hit the trigger."




Court documents reveal that when police officers arrived at the scene, Hines was near hysterical with blood on his hands.




"Oh my god, I can't believe I just killed someone by accident," he allegedly said.




Police said he continued to blurt admissions out, unprompted.




"I'm sorry.... can someone wipe my hands, her blood is all over my hands... I just set it down and it just f***ing shot bro, it went straight in her f***ing face.... I f***ing killed her, Oh my God.... I'm so sorry."








Witnesses told police they convinced Hines to stay and call 911, as he first allegedly stated, "No, I'm gonna run, I'm gonna run." But a witness reportedly talked Hines into taking his gun apart, placing it on a Jeep, and waiting for police.




Both Hines and witnesses told investigators he began drinking only after the shooting, and had not been drinking while playing around with the gun and pointing it at his friends.




According to court documents, Hines vomited several times while officers were on scene. He was also extremely focused on the blood on his hands once taken in for questioning.




Hines reportedly asked several times to wash the blood off his hands, but officers told him they first needed to take photographs. A medic also had to be called to the interview room to check on Hines due to him saying he was having a severe panic attack due to "killing his best friend."




Hines was officially charged with reckless homicide, a Level 5 felony, on Monday. He also is charged with three counts of pointing a firearm, a Level 6 felony.




If convicted, Hines could face up to six years in prison on a Level 5 felony.





via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/court-docs-indy-man-says-gun-misfired-shot-best-friend-in-head/