Paulding County authorities now believe the bullet that killed an 8-year-old girl in October was accidentally fired by her brother — not discharged from a handgun that fell from a table, as her mother originally told deputies.
The brother, 23-year-old Quincy Lynch, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct in connection with the girl’s death, the Paulding sheriff’s office announced Tuesday. The mother, 45-year-old Marsha Lynch, who was also wounded in the incident, has been charged with obstruction.
“It’s still a mystery at this point how it occurred,” Sgt. Ashley Henson said. “We obviously don’t believe there was any intent there.”
Paulding authorities responded to the home on the 400 block of Fairview Drive shortly after 5 p.m. on Oct. 17, finding 8-year-old Sharia Lynch with a gunshot wound to the head. Her mother was also shot in the leg.
Sharia died while en route to WellStar Paulding Hospital.
Marsha Lynch originally told police the weapon “fell from a table and discharged once it hit the ground,” hitting her leg first and then striking her daughter, Henson said. New information from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab, however, suggested the bullet struck Sharia first.
Analysis also “determined that the firearm was functioning properly and that it could not have accidentally discharged,” Henson said.
Quincy and Marsha Lynch were both arrested last week and have since been released on bond, Henson said.
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