A 21-year-old Greene County man was arrested Oct. 2 and charged with reckless conduct following an incident in which a Greene County High School student was accidentally shot in the leg.
Robert “R.J.” McCannon was taken to the Morgan County jail, and the victim was transported to Augusta University Hospital by an Airlife helicopter due to substantial injuries.
According to the incident report, Greene County Deputy Gage Gurley, Lt. Mark Fuller, and Sgt. Antavious Hall was dispatched to a Union Point address in the early morning hours of Oct. 2 about a shooting. Gurley was first on the scene and said a crowd of civilians had gathered near the victim, Kiera Jernigan. A witness told Gurley the shooter was no longer in the area.
Gurley asked Jernigan what had transpired, and she said she was in pain and asked to be taken to the hospital. According to the report, Jerningan’s wound was wrapped in a hoodie. Gurley continued to ask bystanders for information about the situation, but no one seemed interested in talking to the deputy, some saying they didn’t see or hear anything.
Jernigan then told Gurley she was accidentally shot by McCannon, who was still nearby. Jernigan said she knew the shooting was not intentional and purely an accident.
McCannon was finally located nearby, and Gurley read him his Miranda warning.
McCannon stated he wanted to speak only with Fuller.
After he had a conversation with Fuller, McCannon said the firearm was approximately 30 yards inside the treeline behind the Hunter Street address. Gurley said he found a single-use aluminum bullet casing (7.62 x 39) in the area.
After Fuller located the firearm, Gurley took possession of the Micro Draco pistol and remaining ammunition.
According to the report, the magazine contained 29 7.62x39 Tulamma bullets, and one additional bullet was found in the chamber.
McCannon was transported to the Morgan County jail without any further incident.