In the quiet community of Fort Madison, Iowa, a bright and promising life was tragically cut short on Sunday, March 24, 2019. Haley Elizabeth McManus, a 15-year-old Caucasian female, passed away from injuries she sustained in a shooting incident that occurred earlier that day. The event unfolded at the Tri-State Gun Club, located in Montrose, a small city in Lee County.
On that Sunday morning, at approximately 10:41 AM, emergency services received a call reporting a gunshot victim at the gun club. First responders and deputies from the Lee County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the scene, where they found Haley with a single gunshot wound. She was immediately transported to the Fort Madison Community Hospital and later airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, she succumbed to her injuries.
An investigation into the shooting was conducted by the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Following the investigation, authorities concluded that the incident was a tragic accident. The gunshot wound was determined to be self-inflicted, and officials stated that no foul play or negligence was suspected in her death. Consequently, no arrests were made, and there were no suspects in the case. The Sheriff's Office extended its sincere condolences to Haley's family and friends during the traumatic time.
Haley was a sophomore at Fort Madison High School, where she was an active and involved student. Her school's principal noted that going to the shooting range was a regular activity for Haley and her father, and the incident was not related to any school function. In the wake of the tragedy, grief counselors were made available to students and staff at the high school to help them cope with the sudden loss of their classmate and friend.
