Inset: Louis Jenkins Jr. (IMPD). Background: The area in Indiana where Jenkins allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend (Google Maps).
A tragic incident in Indiana has led to the arrest of a 20-year-old man, Louis Jenkins Jr., who faces charges of reckless homicide following the death of his girlfriend, 21-year-old Rebecca Carter. Authorities claim Jenkins allegedly shot Carter at close range while they were “playing” with a firearm on a couch.
Jenkins was apprehended earlier this month, and court documents confirm the charge of reckless homicide in connection with Carter’s death.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of Carlyle Place at approximately 11:45 p.m. on April 1, following reports of a shooting, as reported by local NBC affiliate WTHR.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered Carter with a gunshot wound. She was immediately transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition but sadly succumbed to her injuries shortly thereafter, the station reported.
Reports indicate that several individuals, including a juvenile and two young children, were present in the home during the incident.
A juvenile witness told police that Carter had been handling Jenkins’ firearm while seated on the couch and was “playing with the gun” during a FaceTime call, as reported by Indianapolis ABC affiliate WRTV. The witness further described seeing Carter “kissing the gun” and, at one point, asking Jenkins to “put it in my mouth.”
When Jenkins raised the gun, Carter reportedly lifted her hand and either grabbed it or struck the trigger, causing it to fire, according to the witness.
Jenkins gave a different account to investigators.
He told police the juvenile had been pointing a Glock handgun at him, prompting him to retrieve his own Taurus pistol from a nearby cubby to show he was also armed.
“While the gun was pointed at Ms. Carter, his finger slipped, and it hit the trigger and went off,” the affidavit reportedly said.
After the shot was fired, a witness heard Jenkins say, “Oh my God. I’m so stupid. I had one in the head,” referencing a round in the chamber, according to a report from Indianapolis Fox affiliate WXIN.
Jenkins later told police he does not typically keep a bullet in the chamber and had been “playing around” with the weapon when it discharged, authorities said. He also said he removed the magazine and threw the gun after the shooting, then called his mother and tried to help Carter by holding her neck.
While being transported by police, Jenkins made another statement about the shooting, saying, “I should have shot myself instead of her because my life is over.”
Prosecutors say the case underscores the dangers of handling firearms irresponsibly.
“What happened here is we had a group of friends who were joking around with a gun, using it in irresponsible ways, and the consequence was someone lost their life,” Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears told WXIN.
Carter’s family described her as vibrant and full of life.
“Becca was fun, and she had a tenacious spirit,” her godmother told WXIN. “We just want to let people know that life is fleeting.”
Jenkins has since appeared in court and was released after posting a $40,000 bond. He is currently scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial conference on June 2, records show.
