WARSAW — A fatal shooting at Shamrock Village Mobile Home Court on Tuesday happened after a man dropped a loaded handgun and tried to catch it in mid-air, causing it to fire, according to court paperwork.

Kyle David Shaw

Heather Emelio, 34, died at the scene from a single shot to the neck.

Kyle David Shaw, 34, who lived with Emelio at lot 94 on Anchorage Road, is charged with one count of reckless homicide, a level 5 felony, and one count of criminal recklessness while armed with a deadly weapon, a level 6 felony.

Court paperwork indicates Shaw was intoxicated at the time of the 1:15 p.m. shooting.

Warsaw Police who arrived at the scene saw Shaw run out of a mobile home with blood on his hands, feet and clothing. Another man, a third resident of the home who was unidentified, also came out of the mobile home.

When officers entered the home, they found Emelio laying on the floor with gunshot wound to the neck. She was pronounced dead at the scene. 

An autopsy revealed the bullet entered the right side of her neck in an upward trajectory and entered her brain, court records said.

Heather Emelio

After reading Shaw his Miranda rights, he told police he and Emelio were in their bedroom. At the time, Shaw said he had been holding a 40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun with a fully loaded magazine and a cartridge in the chamber.

He told police Emelio bumped into him, causing him to drop the gun.

Shaw said he caught the gun but that his thumb touched the trigger, causing the gun to discharge.

Officers gave Shaw a portable breath test which indicated he had a 0.161 alcohol level.

Officers spoke with the other man who said he was in his bedroom when he heard the gunfire. He ran into the bedroom and saw Emelio on the floor.

Shaw was booked in the Kosciusko County Jail with a bond of $10,250 surety and cash.