Authorities report an 18-year-old Cave City man is in custody after he admitted to pointing a loaded rifle at a juvenile during “horseplay,” shooting and killing the juvenile.
Gauge Daniel Allen, age 18 of Cave City is currently being held in the Independence County Jail on a $50,000 bond after he was charged with manslaughter, a Class B felony.
Authorities say on Feb. 12, ICSO responded to a shooting at a home on Rainey Lane.
The victim identified as Dakota Chavers was discovered unresponsive on the couch by law enforcement. Authorities say life saving measures were attempted by officers, a tourniquet was applied and chest compressions were administered until an ambulance arrived and transported the victim to White River Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators say the victim had gunshot wounds to his wrist and chest, leading investigators to believe the injuries were consistent with a defensive wound.
The victim’s body and evidence collected from the scene were sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory.
The Independence County Sheriff’s Office received the completed autopsy and report on Feb. 17th, which acknowledged the wounds were consistent with what investigators observed at the scene.
Several family members who were in the home at the time of the shooting were also interviewed.
Witnesses stated to investigators that Gauge Allen exited the room after the shooting saying he “didn’t mean to.”
Allen denied any involvement in the shooting, “stating that the rifle had fallen over, causing injuries to Dakota.”
Gauge later admitted to investigators that while he was horseplaying, he picked the rifle up and pointed it at the victim.