Teen arrested after gun fires during shooting lesson, killing 17-year-old south Georgia girl

BULLOCH COUNTY, Ga. — An 18-year-old has been arrested after a 17-year-old girl was shot to death in south Georgia last month, according to the Statesboro Herald.

Kelsey McDuffie was shot at a home in Bulloch County in the early morning hours on April 16.

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Deputies said Adan Keelin was showing McDuffie how to disassemble and reassemble a gun when he accidentally fired it. The bullet traveled through Keelin’s hand and struck McDuffie in the back of the head.

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Keelin went to the hospital in a private vehicle. It’s unclear if alerted anyone of McDuffie’s injuries.

McDufflie was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

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On Tuesday, the District Attorney’s office filed charges of felony involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm during the commission a felony and reckless conduct.

Channel 2 Action News spoke with McDuffie’s family, who decided to pursue organ donation.

McDuffie was able to donate her heart, both lungs, both kidneys, her liver, pancreas and small intestines.

Kelsey’s sister, Kailyn McDuffie, said organ donation is very close to her family’s heart because their father had a heart transplant in 2017.

“Our beautiful baby girl, Kelsey McDuffie, has the ability to be the reason so many people live and we couldn’t be more thankful that we got to share her love and light with so many people while she graced this Earth,” Kailyn McDuffie said.

“She always fiercely stood up for anything she believed in and she could light up a room full of people with her beautiful smile and contagious laugh. Our baby girl is a hero and she will always be our free-spirited firecracker.”

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