A Florida deputy faces manslaughter charges following the accidental shooting death of his girlfriend during gun cleaning.
Leslie Boileau, a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, contacted 9-1-1 on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 19, to inform them that he had unintentionally shot his girlfriend, as stated in a news release from the Ocala Police Department.
Officers discovered the victim suffering from a deadly gunshot wound to her forehead upon their arrival. A 9mm handgun was found on the victim’s lap, along with a rifle at the scene, according to the news release.
According to the statement, Boileau informed officers during the interrogation that the shooting was “accidental,” indicating that it happened while he and his girlfriend were “handling and dry-firing the firearms.”
Shooting a firearm without any ammunition in the chamber is known as “dry-firing.”
Boileau mentioned that the two returned home from dinner, opened a package containing gun cleaning supplies, and started the cleaning process.
A report from FOX 13 reveals that Boileau mentioned he “grabbed the rifle and dry-fired it one time,” and during a second attempt, he “forgot that he had placed the loaded magazine into the rifle, which discharged one live round towards (his girlfriend), resulting in her death.”
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The deputy reportedly mentioned that he and his girlfriend had undergone similar training and told the officers present, “I realize this appears quite concerning.” “I expressed my desire to prevent this situation,” reports FOX 13.
The Ocala Police Department reported that a search warrant was carried out at Boileau’s home, confirming his story with physical evidence discovered at the location.
“Following these developments, Leslie Boileau has been taken into custody for manslaughter in connection with the deadly shooting,” the department’s announcement reveals.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced in a press release to PEOPLE that Boileau is currently in custody at the Marion County Jail without bond. He was let go right away from the department after eight years of service as a deputy sheriff.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods expressed deep sorrow for the family and friends of the victim in a statement included in the release. Many law enforcement officers perform their duties admirably each day. Sadly, the devastating actions of a single individual impact the whole law enforcement community. The Ocala Police Department has my office’s backing as they work to complete their investigation into this unfortunate event.
Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken shared his condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones, emphasizing that the Ocala Police Department is collaborating with the State Attorney’s Office to ensure justice is served.
