On the evening of Friday, March 8, 2019, 15-year-old Matthew Ryan Hubbard of Heflin, Alabama, was at a friend’s home on Legend Creek Way in Douglasville, Georgia, when a .22 caliber rifle discharged. Matthew was struck in the head and died at the scene. The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office responded about 7:05 p.m.; investigators described the shooting as appearing to be accidental and said the 14-year-old friend was handling the rifle when it fired.

An autopsy was scheduled with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to determine the official cause of death. Authorities emphasized gun safety and secure storage after the incident, and a fundraiser was started to help Matthew’s family with funeral expenses. There have been no reports of arrests or charges in connection with his death.

Did anyone in the area know Matthew or have information about how the rifle came to be at that address?