In the early morning hours in Macon, Georgia, a sequence of events led to the tragic death of 39-year-old Eric Riggins. After dropping his wife off at her workplace, Riggins pulled his car into a gas station parking lot at the intersection of Mercer University Drive and Log Cabin Drive. What transpired next appears to have been a tragic accident.
Surveillance footage from the gas station captured the slow entry of Riggins' vehicle into the lot.
Investigators believe that Riggins had a handgun concealed in the pocket of his hoodie. While attempting to remove the firearm, it is believed he accidentally discharged the weapon. The single round struck him in the femoral artery, a wound that would prove to be fatal.
Bibb County Coroner Leon Jones confirmed the cause of death as an accidental gunshot wound. He noted that this was the fourth such accidental firearm death he had seen in his long career. The investigation concluded that there was no foul play involved, and therefore, no arrests were made and there were no suspects in the case. The incident served as a somber reminder of the potential dangers of handling firearms.
