James Smith-Woodward, a 31-year-old man, tragically died on December 9, 2015, in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. According to reports, James, who was staying at the Hawthorn Suites in the 2800 block of Greens Point Parkway, accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun. The incident occurred in a northwest suburban hotel, where he was found with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Despite his efforts to call for help, he was transported to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he was pronounced dead at 1:20 p.m. on the same day.
James Smith-Woodward's death was ruled an accident by the Hoffman Estates police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The autopsy confirmed that he died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. There were no indications of foul play, and the police concluded that the shooting was unintentional. James, whose home address was listed in Clarksville, Tennessee, had no known enemies or ongoing disputes that could have led to a different conclusion.
There were no arrests, suspects, or litigations related to James Smith-Woodward's death. The investigation by the local authorities did not uncover any evidence suggesting that his death was anything other than a tragic accident. Consequently, there were no murder charges or law cases filed in connection with this incident. The case was closed following the determination that the shooting was accidental.
