COLUMBUS – Columbus police believe the shooting death of a woman on the Southeast Side late Monday night may have been an accident, the second fatal accidental shooting in the city in as many days.
UPDATE 10/10/18 6:34 a.m.: Eric Lamar Smith-Ross, 19, of Groveport, was charged with “weapons under disability” in connection with this incident and additional charges are pending, according to police.
The initial investigation into the incident indicates that Eric Lamar Smith-Ross, inside a residence in the 5000 block of Labelle Drive, in Walnut Heights, may have mishandled a firearm, causing it to fire accidentally, hitting Jwan Porter in the chest, Homicide Unit Sgt. Jeff Strayer said.
Officers found Porter, 40, inside the home at 11:19 p.m. and fire division personnel transported her to Mt. Carmel East Hospital where she was pronounced dead just after midnight Tuesday, Strayer said.
The circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation and Strayer says all the people involved are being questioned about their involvement.
Smith-Ross, 19, of Groveport, was charged with weapons under disability, a felony charge that indicates he was illegally in possession of the firearm.
This is the 82nd homicide in Columbus this year.