Morgan County authorities continue fatal shooting investigation - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

Morgan County authorities await autopsy in fatal shooting

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MORGAN COUNTY, AL (WAFF) -

Morgan County Sheriff's Office investigators are awaiting the results of the autopsy of a Somerville woman shot and killed Monday night.

Sheriff Ana Franklin said it appears the shooting was accidental. The shooting happened on Charest Road just after 6. 

The husband of 29-year-old Lora Michelle West told investigators he was cleaning a gun at their home. He said he dropped it and fired a bullet into West's chest. Before making a final determination, investigators said they will look into the preliminary autopsy results, do a forensic examination of the gun, and will conduct ballistics testing to determine if the bullet came from the gun recovered at the scene.

The autopsy is expected to be completed by Wednesday.

Sheriff Franklin said the couple's six-year-old daughter and West's 12-year-old son from a previous relationship were at the home when the shooting happened.

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