Man Dead In Accidental Shooting

A man died early Friday morning after a gun accidentally discharged, shooting him in the head.

On February 27, 2015 shorty after 4 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of North Fifth Street for the report of a male subject who had possibly fallen and struck his head. He was unconscious and not breathing.

According to a release from the Laramie Police Department, officers arrived and discovered 23-year-old Randolph Starkel near his vehicle which he had been loading to return to Washington State with his fiancé. A weapon was discovered near his body which was identified as a .22 caliber H&R sportsman’s pistol fully loaded with 9 rounds.

From the investigation, it appears Starkel dropped the weapon causing the weapon to discharge. Mr. Starkel was struck with the round below his left eye.

The pathologist’s finding was that the cause of death was a single gunshot to the head. The death was determined to be an accident.