Gwinnett woman killed while friend was cleaning gun, police say

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A woman is charged with killing her roommate inside a Gwinnett County home.

She told police the shooting was an accident.

Keely Kilpatrick, 26, is being charged with involuntary manslaughter. Gwinnett County police told Channel 2's Audrey Washington they arrived at the home on Wynhall Drive Saturday night after someone called about a person shot.

They said Kilpatrick lived at the home with her mother and her roommate, Dixie Cowe, 43.

Kilpatrick's mother told investigators that her daughter walked downstairs to clean the gun.

Moments later, the mother said she heard a loud noise. She told police that she went downstairs and that's where she found Cowe suffering from a gunshot to the chest.

Kilpatrick told her mother and police that the gun went off and hit Cowe in the chest. Cowe was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

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Washington spoke to a family friend who said she could not believe what happened.

Brianna Johnson went on to say the shooting had to be an accident and that she believes and supports Kilpatrick.

Kilpatrick is at a dentention center, being held with no bond.

Cox Media Group