The body of Thomas Haskins was a day away from being cremated – and his closest kin didn’t even know he was dead.A Norwell High School student who was shot while cleaning weapons and later died has been identified.
Heath Bumgarner, 18, of Uniondale died from his injuries Sunday evening at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, according to the Allen County Coroner’s Office.
Bumgarner was cleaning guns with an 19-year-old friend Saturday afternoon at a home just outside Markle in Wells County. As his friend was handling a .45-caliber handgun, it discharged, hitting Bumgarner in the head, Indiana State Police said.
Bumgarner was taken to the hospital in critical condition and underwent emergency surgery, state police said.
The coroner’s office ruled the death a homicide because it was the result of another person’s actions. State police have said the shooting appears to have been accidental and no arrests have been made.
The Wells County Sheriff’s Department, the Allen County Coroner’s Office and the Indiana State Police are investigating. The name of Bumgarner’s friend has not been released.
Bumgarner, a senior, had won a $5,000 scholarship to attend Ohio Technical College in Cleveland, according to the school’s Facebook site.
He is survived by his parents, Bruce and Kim Bumgarner, and his sisters, Amber Reed and Lacey Meyer, according to an obituary.
Funeral services have not been announced. Arrangements by Goodwin-Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel.
