In what was meant to be an exploration of a self-defense theory, a 34-year-old Augusta, Georgia man, Richard Splichal, lost his life on March 16, 2019. Richard, a White/Caucasian male, was a devoted husband and a loving father to his two children. He was known for his compassionate nature, his love for hiking, and his fondness for animals.
On that fateful morning, Richard was with his best friend, 29-year-old Spencer Warren, in his shed on Metcalf Street. Both men were military reservists and shared an interest in firearms. They decided to test the '21-foot rule,' a principle that gauges the distance a person with a weapon needs to defend against an attacker. Believing he had unloaded his. 38 revolver, Warren participated in the experiment. As Richard moved towards him to simulate an attack, Warren drew his firearm and pulled the trigger twice.
Tragically, the second pull of the trigger discharged a live round, striking Richard in the upper right chest. Despite Warren's immediate efforts to stop the bleeding, the injury proved fatal. Richard was rushed to Augusta University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
In the aftermath of the tragic incident, Spencer Warren was arrested and faced legal consequences for his actions. The Richmond County grand jury indicted him on charges of involuntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, citing his reckless behavior. A memorial mass was held for Richard at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church, where friends and family gathered to remember a life cut short by a devastating accident.
