In Nashville, Tennessee, on December 25, 2023, an 81-year-old man named Johnnie Lee Thompson died from a gunshot wound. The incident occurred inside his apartment on Claiborne Street during a visit from a 67-year-old friend.
According to the friend's account to law enforcement, Thompson was showing him a Derringer pistol and demonstrating its use. During the demonstration, the firearm was accidentally dropped to the floor.
Upon impact, the gun discharged, and a bullet struck Thompson in the chest.
Emergency services were called, and Thompson was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Despite the medical attention he received, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The initial police investigation has suggested that the shooting was accidental. However, at the time of the initial reports, his death was officially unclassified pending the results of an autopsy, and the investigation remained open.
