In the small town of Hartsville, Indiana, a quiet evening turned tragic for the family of James E. Lonaker. On Sunday, February 21, 2016, the 62-year-old male was in a back bedroom of his home, working at his computer. In the same room were his wife, Jenny Rose, their one-year-old son, and their six-year-old son. In a moment that would forever alter their lives, the older boy discovered an unsecured revolver that had been placed on a desk.
What happened next was a devastating accident.
The young child picked up the handgun, and it discharged, striking his father in the upper body. His wife heard a pop but did not immediately realize it was a gunshot. Emergency services were called to the home on Clinton Street at approximately 9:17 p.m. Deputies arriving at the scene found Mr. Lonaker with a gunshot wound. Despite the immediate response, his injury was too severe. James E. Lonaker died while being airlifted to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
In the aftermath, the community and law enforcement alike were left to grapple with the sorrowful event. The Bartholomew County Sheriff's Department investigated the shooting, which was quickly deemed a 'tragic, tragic accident' by family members. It was reported that Mr. Lonaker, who had owned guns his entire life and possessed a permit for the revolver, had been changing his clothes and momentarily set the weapon down. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest, and the manner of death was listed as homicide. Authorities noted there was no malice involved and notified Child Protective Services, a standard procedure in such cases. The incident served as a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of firearm safety in the home.
