ROCKINGHAM — Charges have been filed in an accidental shooting that sent a woman to a trauma center on Monday.
Sheriff Mark Gulledge announced Wednesday that 29-year-old Jeremy Austin Goins, of Hamlet, has been charged with one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and one misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed weapon.
He was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond.
According to the sheriff, Goins and 23-year-old Samantha Jo Smith, also of Hamlet, were playing on gaming machines around lunchtime Monday at Mill Road Grocery when Goins reached into a fanny pack to grab something.
A gun fell out of the pack, hit the ground and discharged, with the bullet striking Smith, Gulledge said. Smith was treated for her injuries at the scene and later taken to a trauma Center where she was listed Tuesday in critical but stable condition.
Goins initially left the scene, but turned himself in Tuesday evening.
Records show Goins has no previous convictions.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
