Arkansas authorities have ultimately decided to criminally prosecute a 33-year-old officer after evidence contradicted his claims that he accidentally shot dead his colleague through his front door.
Nicholas Salyers said that he inadvertently fired his gun on June 3 when Officer Scott Hutton knocked at his door to pick up a patrol car. The suspect explained that the weapon discharged as he handled it between his hands after spotting an armed figure that he couldn’t identify through a peephole.
Salyers was charged with manslaughter after a thorough investigation showed “evidence of close contact”:
“The bullet hole appeared to have contact residue, which indicated the weapon was pressed against the door when fired. Powder burns and a C-Shape ring of residue were left around the hole.”
