In the small town of Sussex, Wisconsin, the life of 18-year-old Austin McGuire was cut tragically short on October 17, 2018. A young man with a passion for cars and a promising future in welding, Austin was fatally shot in a home in the Town of Lisbon.
That day, the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department received a distressing 911 call from a 21-year-old man who identified himself as Austin's best friend.
In a panicked state, the caller explained that Austin had handed him a handgun after removing the magazine, leading him to believe the weapon was unloaded. However, a single bullet remained in the chamber. When the friend squeezed the trigger, the gun discharged, striking Austin in the chest.
Upon their arrival, sheriff's deputies discovered Austin collapsed in the kitchen. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at Community Memorial Hospital. The 21-year-old friend was taken into custody for questioning.
Investigators searched the home and recovered a spent. 22 caliber shell casing, a handgun, and drug paraphernalia. The incident was initially investigated as an accidental shooting, and the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office conducted a thorough investigation to corroborate the caller's account of the events. As of the latest available reports, no charges had been filed in connection with Austin's death. Raised by his grandmother, Austin was remembered for his love of cars and his girlfriend, and for being enrolled in a welding program at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
