Coroner: Shootings are ruled accidents

Published 11:43 am Thursday, May 26, 2011

Autopsy reports in two fatal shootings in Warren County this week have classified both as accidents, and the charges stand in one of the killings, officials said.

Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey said the autopsy reports were returned Wednesday from the Mississippi State Crime Lab for Richard A. Selby, who died Tuesday, and Justin Tornero, on Monday.

Selby, 62, died from a gunshot wound from a 7 mm rifle. He was found at the rear of his car by his son, Richard II, at their home at 4747 Bovina Cutoff Road about 7:22 p.m. Huskey said Selby was declared dead at the scene.

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Tornero was shot in the neck about 5:54 p.m. Monday by a semi-automatic handgun in a room at the Econo Lodge, 3959 Clay St.

Tornero’s roommate and co-worker at International Security Agency, Daniel O’Neil Dodd, 28, of Tyler, Texas, was charged with manslaughter by culpable negligence. He was released on $32,000 bond Tuesday.

District Attorney Ricky Smith said the charges against Dodd will be presented to the next Warren County grand jury when it meets on July 25.

Smith said the preliminary investigation of the shooting indicated that it was accidental, “But because of the nature of the crime and because two people were involved, I believe we need to present the case to the grand jury and let them decide.”

A grand jury decides whether enough evidence exists for a suspect to be indicted and a criminal trial to proceed.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said Selby was apparently pulling some items, including the rifle, out of the trunk of his car when the rifle discharged, hitting him. Huskey said a bullet from the rifle struck Selby in the center of his chest, killing him.

Huskey said the bullet that killed Tornero traveled down from his neck and through his body, striking several organs before lodging in a lung.

Vicksburg police Lt. Bobby Stewart said Dodd was arrested at the hotel room that he and Tornero shared.