A Decatur woman is dead after a “joking” moment with a rifle turned into a Valentine’s Day tragedy.
Macon County Coroner Michael Burkham identified the victim as 26-year-old Alexandra Wilson.
The shooting happened on Saturday, Feb. 14, at a home on the 1700 block of North Summit Avenue.
Decatur police officers rushed to the scene around 5:30 p.m. after receiving a 911 call.
The caller was 25-year-old Christian D. Luthy.
Luthy told emergency dispatchers that he had accidentally shot a woman inside the house.
When officers arrived, they found Wilson suffering from a single gunshot wound to her torso.
Paramedics transported Wilson to Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Medical staff pronounced her dead shortly after she arrived.
Detectives immediately began processing the scene and interviewing Luthy at police headquarters.
Police reports show that the couple was sitting together in their computer gaming room.
Luthy told investigators he was working on his AR-15 style rifle.
According to a sworn statement, Luthy finished working on the gun and pointed it at Wilson.
He told police he “jokingly” pulled the trigger.
Luthy claimed he believed the high-powered rifle was not loaded.
One round discharged from the weapon and struck Wilson.
Police arrested Luthy and booked him into the Macon County Jail.
He appeared in court on Feb. 17 to face several serious charges.
Prosecutors charged Luthy with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
He also faces one count of reckless discharge of a firearm.
A judge granted Luthy pretrial release with specific conditions.
He is strictly prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms.
Luthy is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on March 11.
Recent History
This incident marks another dark chapter for the North Summit Avenue area and the wider Decatur community.
The 1700 block of North Summit has seen a rise in police activity over the last year.
Neighbors have expressed growing concerns regarding weapon safety and neighborhood security.
Local records show that Decatur has struggled with several accidental discharges involving high-capacity firearms recently.
Community leaders often cite these preventable tragedies when calling for stricter gun safety education.
The loss of Alexandra Wilson adds to a string of violent incidents that have put local law enforcement on high alert.
Investigators are still asking for help from the public to piece together the full timeline.
