Background: News footage of the Indianapolis, Ind. home where a woman was allegedly accidentally shot to death by Elliot Hines (WXIN). Inset: Elliot Hines (Marion County Jail).
An Indiana man who was allegedly pointing his gun at his friends during a casual hangout is now behind bars after he shot and killed one of them, police say.
Elliot Hines, 23, was charged with reckless homicide and three felony counts of pointing a firearm in connection with a fatal shooting on Saturday that took the life of his “best friend.” According to court documents obtained by local Fox affiliate WXIN, witnesses who were spending that evening with Hines said he was allegedly “playing with” a loaded handgun and pointed it at them several times. Witnesses reportedly told police that they had asked Hines to stop.
The night took a tragic turn, police said, when Hines set his gun down on a dryer and the gun apparently “misfired,” sending a bullet into the head of a woman he called his “best friend.”
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The police were called to the scene at the Indianapolis home, where they reportedly stated that they found Hines in a hysterical state and his hands covered in blood. Police said that Hines admitted to the shooting without being prompted, saying, “Oh my god, I can’t believe I just killed someone by accident.”
Hines also reportedly said, “I’m sorry… can someone wipe my hands, her blood is all over my hands… I just set it down and it just f—ing shot, bro, it went straight in her f—ing face… I f—ing killed her, oh my God… I’m so sorry.” At one point while at the scene, he reportedly said, “I loved that girl, I would never want to hurt her.”
According to court documents, Hines reportedly asked, “How does that even happen, officer? I put my firearm down and it f—ing shot!”
Police stated that Hines vomited several times at the scene. Witnesses said he did not begin drinking until after the alleged shooting occurred, seemingly making it clear that he was not drinking while playing with the gun earlier. They also told police that they reportedly convinced Hines to take his gun apart and leave it on a nearby Jeep. When Hines allegedly threatened to flee the scene, witnesses told police they convinced him to stay, which he did.
While in custody, Hines allegedly told police that he was having a panic attack because he “kill[ed] his best friend.” When it came to what he believed could have happened, court documents stated that he told police that “his finger must have hit the trigger” when he “set his gun down on the dryer.”
Hines was also reportedly fixated on the fact that his hands were covered in his friend’s blood, telling police that he would “freak the f— out” if he was not allowed to wash his hands. Police were photographing his hands for evidence.
Hines was booked into the Marion County Jail after midnight on Sunday, where he remains held without bond. His next court date is scheduled for July 14 — a jury trial is scheduled for July 22.
