On Sunday, Sept. 15, an incident described as an “accidental shooting” occurred on the 500 block of High Street around 8 p.m. The Farmville Police Department and Longwood Police Department responded to reports of a shooting to find out that Longwood student Jacob Richardson, 22, accidentally discharged a firearm, causing a leg wound to Longwood student, Kathleen Battle, 21, according to a police report released Sept. 16.
Battle was transported to Centra Southside Community Hospital and then UVA Medical Center with a non-life-threatening injury.
Sergeant of Longwood Police Department Ricardo Atristain reported that the situation was determined to be clear and with no ongoing threat. He stated that the
Farmville Police Department underwent the investigation.
According to a release from the Office of Public Relations, Battle was injured when her friend Richardson showed her his personal firearm and a bullet reportedly caused an accidental wound to her leg.
According to the police report released by Chief of Farmville Police Doug Mooney, “The investigation revealed that another Longwood University student, 21 year old Jacob E. Richardson, was inside a residence with the victim trying to unload the handgun when it accidently discharged.”
After the accidental shooting, Richardson called 911 for help and cooperated fully with the investigation, according to the police report.
He was charged with Reckless Handling of a Firearm and was released pending a court appearance in Prince Edward County General District Court on Sept. 30 at 9 a.m.
Reckless Handling of a Firearm is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor, according to the Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System website.
The authorized punishment for a Class 1 misdemeanor is “confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both,” according to the Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System website.
Longwood University students, faculty and staff, as well as community members, were informed of the incident by a text message notification from the e2Campus alert system at 10 p.m. The message stated, “Two Longwood students were involved in an accidental shooting off campus tonight. One injured student was transported.”
