An 18-year-old has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a juvenile male after a shooting at a residence in northern Independence County earlier this month, according to court records.
Guage Allen Daniel, 18, was booked into the Independence County Jail on Wednesday on a $50,000 bond following a warrant issued through the Independence County Circuit Court.
Deputies with the Independence County Sheriff’s Department responded Feb. 12 to a reported accidental gunshot wound at a residence on Rainey Lane, where they found the victim, identified as Dakota Chavers, unresponsive on a couch. Responding deputies administered CPR until Vital Link Ambulance Service arrived and assumed care. Chavers was transported to White River Medical Center, where he later died. An autopsy completed Feb. 17 by the Arkansas State Crime Lab confirmed findings consistent with what investigators had observed at the scene.
Investigators say wounds to Chavers’ wrist and chest were consistent with defensive injuries.
According to an affidavit filed by Detective Dalton Wallace of the Independence County Sheriff’s Department, a juvenile female who was present in the home at the time told investigators that when Chavers emerged from a room with a gunshot wound, Daniel exited stating he did not mean to.
Daniel initially told investigators the rifle had fallen over and caused the injuries, the court record said. He later admitted, following advisement of his Miranda rights, that he had picked up the rifle and pointed it at Chavers while the two were horseplaying. According to the affidavit, Daniel stated that when Chavers warned him the weapon was loaded, he moved it away, at which point it discharged.
Daniel is charged with manslaughter, defined under Arkansas law as recklessly causing the death of another person.
The investigation was conducted by Detectives Wallace and Bobby Tate under the direction of Chief Deputy Aaron Moody.
Image: Independence County Sheriff’s Office
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