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BOUNTIFUL — A fatal shooting in Bountiful involving two high school friends appears to have been an accident, police say.
Yet Dylan Francis Goodin, 21, of Bountiful, was still charged Tuesday in 2nd District Court with manslaughter, a second-degree felony; possession of a weapon by a restricted person, a third-degree felony; drug possession, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class B misdemeanor.
On Nov. 24, three men including Goodin and Jacob Hess, 20, of North Salt Lake — who have been friends since high school — met at Goodin's house in Bountiful to prepare to go to the shooting range near the Bountiful "B," according to charging documents.
The third man told police that Goodin and Hess were sitting on a bed in Goodin's basement bedroom when Goodin picked up a gun and appeared to be clearing it.
"(He) saw Goodin, while pointing the weapon at Jacob, pull the trigger. (He) heard the shot and remembered Goodin dropping the handgun and asking if everyone was OK," the charges state.
Hess stood up, clutched his shoulder and said, "I got shot — call the police," according to the charges.
When officers arrived, Goodin was outside the residence and allegedly told police, "It was an accident. Arrest me. Arrest me now."
Goodin was also treated for a gunshot wound to his hand. Investigators believe the shot went through his hand and hit Hess, who later died.
"Goodin told the nurses that he had shot himself while standing over his friend clearing a handgun," the charges state.
When questioned by detectives, "Goodin stated that he checked the weapon to make sure it was empty, but that when he racked it the gun fired. When asked about gun safety rules, Goodin stated that he knew to always treat the weapon as if it were loaded. Goodin acknowledged that he must have pulled the trigger. Goodin was booked into jail and placed on a suicide watch," according to the charges.
The third man in the room told police that no one was arguing prior to the shooting and that everyone was looking forward to going to the range.
In Goodin's bedroom, police found "a large amount" of drug paraphernalia, many open containers of alcohol and a small baggy of cocaine; Goodin admitted to using marijuana every night, the charges state.
"Jacob was a vibrant and outgoing soul, known for his infectious energy and love of music. He had a passion for rap and found immense joy in collaborating with fellow rappers, creating a harmonious blend of beats and lyrics that resonated with those who listened," Hess' obituary states. "His outgoing nature created a welcoming atmosphere, and his ability to connect with others left a lasting impression on everyone he met."
