Gerald Perry, a 65-year-old Fresno resident, was shot in the head on April 18, 2014, while visiting his granddaughter’s apartment in Northwest Fresno. He had been sitting on the couch when a bullet fired from a neighboring apartment pierced the sliding glass door and struck him. Perry was taken to Community Regional Medical Center and died the following day.

Authorities say the bullet came from a semi-automatic handgun being handled negligently by 30-year-old Lemont Smith, who was reportedly showing off the firearm to a friend when it discharged. Smith was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including assault with a firearm and other gun-related charges; his criminal history and prior drug convictions were noted during the proceedings. Perry’s widow, Rebecca Perry, described the family’s grief, saying he had just set down their great-granddaughter moments before he was hit.

What details might help clarify how a shot from the neighboring unit traveled through the sliding door and struck Mr Perry?