Jacob Travis McDaniel, 20, of Noblesville has been charged with reckless homicide, a Class C felony, and pointing a firearm, a Class D felony, in the shooting death of Aubrey Peters, 16, on Dec. 9.
According to a probable cause affidavit, McDaniel, Peters and two other friends were hanging out at his house when he went upstairs to retrieve a handgun and was showing it off. One witness, Dajuan Williams, told police that McDaniel tried to get Peters to hold the gun, but she refused. According to the affidavit, Williams said McDaniel dropped the magazine from the gun, took the safety off and pulled the trigger. A bullet struck Peters, who clutched her chest and said, “What just happened?” Williams told police McDaniel asked everyone to tell authorities the gun fell off the table and went off. The affidavit states McDaniel admitted pulling the trigger, thinking the gun was empty.
McDaniel was booked at the Hamilton County Jail and held on a $15,000 bond. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Feb. 21. Upon conviction, reckless homicide carries a punishment of two to eight years in prison. Pointing a firearm is punishable by six months to three years in jail.
