COLUMBIA – Marion County Sheriff Berkley Hall said a man claims he was playing around with a gun when he shot and killed his wife by mistake. Berkley said Troy W. Smith is free on a $20,000 bond after an incident at his home on Smith Hill Lane on July 7.
Berkley said both Smith and his wife, Susan, were drinking, when Smith reportedly had the weapon in his possession.
“He said he was just playing around with it,” Berkley said, “and it discharged and struck her in the abdomen. She was taken to the hospital where she later died from those injuries.”
Berkley said Smith took his wife to Marion General Hospital, and the gun, a .22 caliber pistol, was also recovered.
Smith was charged with manslaughter and his bond was set at $20,000. The sheriff said Smith’s case will be presented to the grand jury.
“We just had grand jury recall,” Berkeley said. “And he has not gone through his preliminary hearing yet. But he will and he also has the right to waive that preliminary hearing. It may be three months and it may be six months. But the main thing is to have my investigators to get [the case] completed and get it on the docket. But it will definitely be presented to the grand jury.”
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