MIAMI COUNTY — An 18-year-old man charged in connection with the death of a high school student in Miami County told detectives he thought the gun was unloaded when he pulled the trigger, according to a court document.
About 10 minutes before 18-year-old Hanna Cox, of Bunker Hill, was fatally shot, she and Jeremiah Smith were sitting in Hanna's car, FaceTimeing with one of their mothers and "laughing and joking around," according to a probable cause affidavit. Cox was a senior at Maconaquah High School.
Smith told detectives Cox came to his house in the afternoon of Feb. 24 in a neighborhood near Grissom Air Reserve Base to return his headphones, according to the affidavit. He got in her car and was trying to fix a gun he said wasn't working.
Smith said he removed the magazine and thought the gun was unloaded, according to the affidavit. But when he pointed the gun at Cox, said "it didn't work" and pulled the trigger, Cox was struck.
A nurse who lives nearby where Cox was shot had just gotten home from work when someone came to the house to tell them Cox was shot, according to the affidavit. Unable to locate a pulse, the nurse started CPR before first responders were able to take over.
While officers were talking with people at the scene, two Black males and a Black female exited a residence with their hands up, according to the affidavit.
PREVIOUS | ISP: Man arrested in fatal shooting of 18-year-old Maconaquah HS student
Smith was charged Monday by prosecutors with involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide and pointing a firearm, according to online court records. An initial hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
Public visitation for Cox's funeral will be held from noon to 3 p.m., followed by a service starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 5 at Fuel Church, 2021 E. Markland Ave. in Kokomo, according to her obituary.
She will be buried at Springdale Cemetery in Bunker Hill.
-
What to know about the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this week
The 2026 NFL Combine is taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium through March 1, bringing hundreds of top prospects to the city for medical evaluations, team interviews and on-field workouts.
110th Indianapolis 500 ticket revealed featuring Alex Palou
The official ticket for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge has been unveiled, featuring champion Alex Palou.
Rick Carlisle says NBA did not speak with team doctors before issuing fine
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the NBA's investigators did not speak with team doctors or players before issuing a recent $100,000 fine for violating the league’s player participation policy.
Stadium bill clears another hurdle, voting bill stalls as session winds down
As the legislative session winds down, Hoosiers have their eyes on a few pieces of legislation, including a bill that would shorten early voting and another to build a stadium for the Chicago Bears.
