Michael Bradley Rouse and Randall Thomas Lewis
Local news reports
The Lenoir County Sheriff's Office says the accidental discharge of a gun has left one man dead and another charged. Deputies arrived on scene and found a male victim dead from a gunshot wound. The victim has been identified as 20-year-old Randall Thomas Lewis. Deputies say he died of an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Sheriffs' detectives say the investigation and determined that Lewis and 19-year-old Michael Bradley Rouse were engaged in horseplay while Rouse held a semi-automatic handgun. Rouse reportedly pointed the handgun at the victim believing the gun had the safety engaged. The gun was then fired and a bullet struck Lewis. Rouse was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter, felony possession of marijuana, maintaining a dwelling for the use or sale of controlled substances and possession of a firearm by felon. He was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Now that's the way to ensure that you'll be held accountable for misusing your gun, being a drug dealer. I suppose the description of the incident was a bit better this time. "The gun was then fired and a bullet struck Lewis." That's definitely better than " the gun then went off."
