Bernard Arthur Stoops Jr., a 48-year-old man from Columbus, Ohio, tragically passed away on September 27, 2019. The incident occurred in the Hilltop neighborhood of Columbus, where Bernard was found with gunshot wounds at the rear of 145 South Harris Avenue. He was immediately rushed to Grant Medical Center in critical condition but was pronounced dead at 10:41 p.m.
The investigation revealed that Bernard's 45-year-old "stepbrother," Michael Tennihill, was responsible for the accidental shooting. According to police reports, Tennihill admitted to playing with a loaded firearm after an afternoon of drinking. During this "horseplay," he accidentally discharged the weapon, striking Bernard. Tennihill was subsequently arrested and charged with reckless homicide.
The case remains under investigation, and the circumstances surrounding the incident have raised questions about the level of Tennihill's intoxication and the nature of the relationship between the two men. The tragic death of Bernard Arthur Stoops Jr. has left a community in mourning and highlighted the dangers of handling firearms irresponsibly.
