Macon teen shot in neck was handling gun when it discharged, authorities say

A Macon teenager shot in the neck was handling a gun when it discharged, authorities said Wednesday.

Nykhia Samspon, 15, was found shot once inside an apartment in Building 209 of Blossom Hill Estates about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Sampson remained in critical condition Wednesday afternoon at the Medical Center, Navicent Health.

Kedrick Reynolds, 18, and a 2-year-old were inside the apartment when deputies arrived, said Bibb County sheriff’s Lt. Randy Gonzalez. No one else was hurt.

Reynolds was taken to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigative Division to be interviewed after the shooting, a Bibb County sheriff’s release said.

“It was discovered through the interview that (Sampson) ... was handling a firearm that was reported to belong to Reynolds,” the statement said. “When Reynolds took the gun from Sampson, the gun discharged, striking Sampson in the neck.”

Reynolds has been charged with giving false statements when interviewed by investigators. The Jones County Sheriff’s Office has a hold on Reynolds for a probation violation.

Reynolds is on probation with first-offender status for a conviction of possession of more than an ounce of marijuana, according to a Jones County Superior Court clerk. First-offender status provides for the removal of a felony conviction upon successfully completing the terms of probation.

Reynolds and Sampson are friends, and Sampson was babysitting the child at the time of the incident, Gonzalez said.

An apartment manager at Blossom Hill Estates declined comment Wednesday. The apartment complex is located at 4006 Mercer University Drive.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500, or call Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.

This story was originally published November 22, 2017 at 11:12 AM with the headline "Macon teen shot in neck was handling gun when it discharged, authorities say."