In the early morning hours of November 5, 2016, a single gunshot shattered the quiet of a Dickinson, North Dakota neighborhood, tragically ending the life of 21-year-old Tanner Corrico. A white male, Corrico was found by police responding to a report of a man with a gunshot wound at a residence. He was immediately transported to a local hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to the arrest of Randall Thompson, a 33-year-old man who was
present at the scene. According to police reports, the shooting occurred after a night of heavy drinking involving Corrico, Thompson, and a woman. An argument reportedly broke out between Corrico and the woman, escalating to the point where Thompson retrieved a handgun.
In his initial statement to investigators, Thompson claimed that he had been showing the firearm to Corrico when it accidentally discharged. He maintained that he did not believe the gun was loaded at the time. Despite his claims of an accidental shooting, Thompson was arrested and subsequently charged with manslaughter.
During legal proceedings, Thompson's defense attorney argued for a reduction in his bond, citing his ties to the community and asserting that he was not a flight risk. The prosecution, however, highlighted the seriousness of the charge and the nature of the incident. Ultimately, Thompson pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of negligent homicide. In May 2017, he was sentenced to five years in prison, with two years suspended, followed by three years of supervised probation. The court also ordered him to pay restitution to the victim's family. The case concluded with a plea agreement, bringing a close to the legal chapter of a night that ended in a young man's untimely death.
