In the quiet holiday season of December 2016, a day of recreational target practice turned into a scene of unimaginable tragedy for 24-year-old Sarah Bonner. A resident of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Bonner was visiting friends and family in Anderson, South Carolina, for Christmas. On the afternoon of December 26th, she went to the Skip J Gun Range, a private pistol and rifle club, accompanied by her friend, Mattie Smith.
It was there that a bullet inexplicably struck her in the head.
Emergency services rushed Bonner to a nearby hospital where she was placed on life support. For three days, she fought for her life, but her injuries proved to be too severe. Sarah Bonner died on December 29, 2016. Her death was a shock to her loved ones and the community, transforming a festive time of year into one of mourning. Friends remembered her as a kind and caring person who lived life to the fullest.
The Anderson County Sheriff's Office immediately launched an investigation into the shooting. The incident was described as a 'freak accident,' and the owner of the gun range stated it was the first accidental shooting in the club's 24-year history. Investigators collected several firearms from the scene to determine the source of the fatal shot. An autopsy was performed, and the bullet was recovered for forensic analysis.
Despite the ongoing investigation, the circumstances surrounding the shooting remained unclear. No arrests were ever made in connection with Sarah Bonner's death, and no suspects were publicly identified. The coroner ultimately ruled her death an accident. In the wake of this tragedy, Bonner's family and friends honored her memory by establishing a scholarship in her name for radiology students at Gwinnett Technical College, a field of study she had been pursuing. Even in her death, Bonner gave the gift of life to others as an organ donor.
