MONROE COUNTY 鈥 Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing said the gunshot that killed a 14-year-old girl this week near Waterloo was not self-inflicted.
Rohlfing said Wednesday that investigators have ruled out suicide and also don鈥檛 believe the girl, Emma E. Schultheis, was handling a gun that accidentally discharged.
Instead, someone else was holding the gun when it went off, Rohlfing said.
Emma Schultheis
鈥淚t was a freak accident,鈥 the sheriff said.
The sheriff said he would release more details about the shooting and who was responsible once he meets with the state鈥檚 attorney.
Emma, of Prairie du Rocher, Illinois, was shot Monday afternoon in the 5900 block of Route 3, south of Waterloo. She died at a 最新杏吧原创 hospital.
She was a member of the Red Bud chapter of Future Farmers of America and enjoyed showing her livestock at events. The local chapter plans to sell her livestock in her memory Thursday night at the Monroe County Fair.
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鈥淚f you ever had the chance to meet Emma, you know she was a spark of energy 鈥 full of grit, spunk, and an unforgettable smile,鈥 the Red Bud FFA said on its Facebook page.
鈥淪he had a heart full of passion for many things 鈥 softball, track, volleyball 鈥 but her deepest love was for livestock and the community that came with it.鈥
Her is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 29, at St. John United Church of Christ at 1301 Franklin Street in Maeystown, Illinois.
Her parents are Amanda and David Schultheis. They could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday.
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