Court records: Husband shot wife during intruder game

Omaha.com ^ | 2/6/2009 | LESLIE REED

[Red in Blue PA]

LINCOLN — Twenty-one-year-old Josh Beasley was pretending to clear his home of intruders on Saturday when he fired the shot that killed his 20-year-old wife, Alaina, according to court documents filed today.

The affidavit, based on Beasley’s interview with a Lincoln police detective on the day of the shooting, was released by Lancaster County Attorney Gary Lacey.

Josh Beasley appeared in court this afternoon on a charge of manslaughter for unintentionally causing his wife’s death.

With about10 friends and family members in the courtroom, Lancaster County Judge James Foster released Beasley without bail. Beasley had turned himself into police this morning.

In an interview with the World-Herald, Beasley earlier said he accidentally shot his wife while cleaning his shotgun.

[muawiyah]

We had a young man in the neighborhood pick up several shotguns at one time to move them into a pickup truck out front.

He forgot all of 'em were loaded, and while messing with his load managed to kill his young wife.

This happened right in front of his father who was helping them relocate to a new house somewhere else.

I remember that girl well ~ she'd lived next door all her life ~ she'd come out of the house screaming and everybody over there would scatter to the four-winds.

Her father usually kept a car out front with the hood up so all the guys could pretend to be working on it.

That was the only thing that seemed to calm her down.

Well, that and a shotgun blast.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Idiot!

[Uri’el-2012]

Police Officer Safety Training (POST) Rules

1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Don’t point the muzzle at anything you’re not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger straight and outside the triggerguard until you’re ready to fire.
4. Be sure of your target and what lay beyond.

Have not reduced Negligent discharges !

The NRA Safety Rules are :

Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction

Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use

[ozzymandus]

I vote that he’s just stupid. I knew a “cowboy action shooter” who was practicing (read “playing”) with his shotgun and drew down on a potted plant hanging in front of his picture window. Plant and window got blasted. At least the guy in the story probably won’t be a cop now. Sounds like a SWAT team wanna-be. Maybe the BATFE will still take him.

[Red in Blue PA]

An immediate call for help makes his alibi look good. Changing the course of events obviates this.

[DesertRhino]

No,, not premeditated murder. A reckless act without intent is manslaughter. Theres no evidence he wanted her dead. He was a 21 year old kid, they make mistakes. Sometimes very heartbreaking ones. They think they can all drive at Daytona, handle a gun like Delta Force, etc. Sometimes they learn bitter lessons the hardest way.

Thers’s enough real murderers to go after. This was a sad accident from immature gun handling.

[Red in Blue PA]

Then why did he change his story?

[DesertRhino]

I agree

[QBFimi]

>> A f@#&ing STUPID accident.

“Accidents” are something puppies have when they are being house trained. This is something else - it’s called a NEGLIGENT discharge. Dumb*ss.

[org.whodat]

Why for an adult to point a gun at another human and pull the trigger, without the actual intent to kill someone, is beyond dumb and beyond an accident. Even playing clear the house with real firearms is a bit on the wacky side..

[bboop]

But, see, he could have followed all those 4 rules. It sounds pretty darned intentional to me. There is surely the possibility that it was.

[dragnet2]

Incredible stupid, something he’ll take to his grave...Probably an early grave.

[dragnet2]

Incredibly stupid, something he’ll take to his grave...Probably an early grave.

[uncommonsense]

Those rules don’t apply if you are committing murder. Hey honey - let’s play a “game” called “intruder”. I’ll have the shotgun this time.

[DesertRhino]

Which facts? The ones where he called and said some black guy did it and just ran down the street? The ones where he tried to bury her 20 miles from town, mop the kitchen, and say she went Jogging? The ones where he has been having an affair? The ones where he took out life insurance last fall on her?

It’s an accident. Anyone who spends a lot of time around hunting and guns can tell you these stories. And almost chapter and verse. A heartbreak doesnt equal a crime. Lots of fathers and sons who were super close, have killed each other hunting. I suppose they should all be in prison, or hanged as someone else said too?

[Global2010]

I say that all the time.
(I support 2nd Amend 100%)

But personally my motto is I should not own a chain saw or a gun.

[BurbankKarl]

what a dope.

[Pablo64]

I've been following this story on the Omaha radio station KFAB since it happened. From some of the background stories about the couple it seems like they were both gun enthusiasts, but not very mature about it. Apparently they were part of a group that would post photos of themselves posing with their guns, pointing them at the camera (unknown if it was on a timer or an actual person holding it taking the picture), and they would blog about the various plans and methods they devised and practiced should they ever have to face an armed intruder in their home.

By all accounts the biggest crime here was colossal stupidity. They were newlyweds (about three months, or so) and there has been no indication in any of the reports that either one had it out for the other. They were just not acting in a mature way in how they handled their firearms or practiced their drills.

The parents of the girl have said they don't believe that he meant to shoot her and that they believe it was and is a tragic accident.

It looks like he'll likely get convicted on negligent manslaughter and spend some time in prison, or maybe, if the court decides that having to live the rest of his life knowing what he did is sufficient punishment, just probation.

All in all, a very tragic event that was completely preventable.

[Red in Blue PA]

“Which facts?”

Innocent people do not change their story!

Twenty-one-year-old Josh Beasley was pretending to clear his home of intruders on Saturday when he fired the shot that killed his 20-year-old wife, Alaina, according to court documents filed today.

EARLIER HE SAID:

In an interview with the World-Herald, Beasley earlier said he accidentally shot his wife while cleaning his shotgun.

[skimbell]

Well, he definitely married better that she did.