In the quiet community of Barren Plains, Tennessee, a heartbreaking incident unfolded on the afternoon of August 5, 2015, leading to the untimely death of 15-year-old Justin McGhee. A Caucasian male and a student at Jo Byrns High School, Justin was on the property of a home on Clinard Road when the tragic event occurred. It was there that a. 22-caliber rifle accidentally discharged while it was being unloaded, striking the teenager in the back shoulder.
Emergency services were dispatched to the scene at approximately 4:01 p.m. and found Justin in critical condition. Resuscitative efforts were immediately employed by deputies and continued by emergency medical personnel as he was rushed to NorthCrest Medical Center. Despite the urgent medical attention, Justin succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The tragic irony of the situation was amplified by the fact that Justin's father was a School Resource Officer with the Robertson County Sheriff's Office, the very agency that responded to the devastating call.
The Robertson County Sheriff's Office conducted a thorough investigation into the shooting and ultimately determined that it was a tragic accident. Their findings concluded that there was no criminal intent, and as a result, no arrests were made, and no suspects were ever named. The incident was a profound loss for the community, which rallied around the grieving family. In the days that followed, grief counselors were made available to Justin's classmates and friends at Jo Byrns High School to help them cope with the sudden and tragic loss of their peer. A funeral service was held to honor Justin's memory on August 8, 2015.
