According to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), deputies rushed to the Zirconia community just after midnight on October 8 after getting a call about a gunshot victim. When they arrived, they found the teen suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency crews with Henderson County EMS and Green River Fire worked to save the boy’s life before he was rushed to Mission Hospital.
Sadly, he passed away from his injuries the next day — October 9, according to officials.
Detectives with HCSO’s Violent Crimes Unit began piecing together what happened that night. Their findings led to the arrest of 34-year-old Justin David Sherrill, who now faces multiple charges, including:
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Possession of a firearm by a felon
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Negligent child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury
Arrest warrants reveal that Sherrill “knowingly permitted his 14-year-old son” to “handle a loaded firearm without supervision.”
Investigators say the father also knew his son had been drinking alcohol that night.
