According to 77-year-old Kathleen Geiger, she thought the rifle was unloaded.
After reportedly shooting and killing a guy who “jokingly” requested her to shoot him during “harmless banter,” an Ohio lady was taken into custody, according to authorities.
Kathleen Geiger, 77, is accused of killing Arthur Osborne, 58, at a Cincinnati apartment on Sunday and is charged with reckless homicide.
According to Cincinnati Police, the incident occurred in the 2700 block of East Tower Drive at approximately 7:47 p.m. on Sunday night. At the scene, Osborne was declared deceased.
According to an affidavit, Geiger “recklessly caused” Osborne’s death by shooting him once in the pelvis area, Fox 19 said.
In a sworn statement, the woman told police that she and Osborne were “engaged in harmless banter when he jokingly requested she shoot him.”
Geiger claimed that she pressed the trigger after pointing her gun at Osborne because she thought it was unloaded.
WLWT cited court documents that show she shot Osborne in the groin.
During her arraignment, prosecutors stated that her belief that the rifle was unloaded was “no excuse,” the site reported.
“Everyone who possesses a firearm has a responsibility to do it responsibly,” one prosecutor stated. “Unless you want to destroy something, you should never point a gun at it and then squeeze the trigger. The defendant killed someone by pointing a gun at them and then pulling the trigger.
According to the police, she ultimately contacted 911 and gave Osborne medical assistance.
Geiger’s case will proceed to a grand jury for potential indictment, and her bond was set at $10,000. On October 31, the next court date was scheduled.