Man Fatally Shot By Girlfriend Who Thought Gun Wasn’t Loaded, Family Says
A Florida man was reportedly shot and killed by his devoted girlfriend who thought the gun she pointed at him wasn’t loaded.
The man who died in this tragic incident has been identified in multiple media accounts as Justin Holt, 22, of Pompano Beach.
Apparently, the couple were taking turns “dry firing” a pistol on Sunday night at about 11 pm in a Boca Raton apartment.
According to the Florida Sun-Sentinel: “The four people at the apartment told investigators the same story,” police said. “Madison Flint, who lives there, invited friends over to hang out. One of them, Joshua Henry, brought a pistol and showed it off to the group, police said.They passed it around and practiced firing it without the bullets inside. Then, Henry reloaded the pistol and set it on the counter, police said. Later in the night, [Erin] Steele picked it up, pointed it at Holt and pulled the trigger, police said. It fired, hitting him in the chest.”
The others called 911, and police arrived shortly thereafter. On the understandably frantic 911 call, one of the witnesses reportedly said, “Please help me, ma’am! There was an accident; there was a very bad accident. Someone picked up my firearm by mistake, ma’am, and someone got shot. Please, please come.”
First responders transported Holt to nearby Delray Medical Center, where was the man tragically pronounced dead.
Steele, 20, Justin Holt’s girlfriend, has not been charged. Holt’s family apparently acknowledged the fatal handgun shooting was an accident and is not harboring any ill will toward his girlfriend who was considered family. “We have a lot of compassion for her because she’s got to live with that, no matter what she does, for the rest of her life,” said Holt’s grandfather.
The couple had a very strong bond, the Daily Mail reported: “According to friends and family, Holt and Steele were very much in love. They had started dating almost immediately after being introduced about a year ago and were nearly inseparable.”
