A tragic incident unfolded in Cincinnati when a woman was fatally wounded during a game of “Russian roulette” proposed by a friend. The friend, Omarion Horne, 23, was subsequently charged with murder and arraigned in an Ohio state court. The victim, Rachel Counts, also 23, was shot in the chest during the ill-fated game.
The incident occurred on the evening of October 5, when emergency services were alerted to a shooting. Upon arrival at a residence in the Winston Hills area of Cincinnati, first responders discovered Counts with a gunshot wound. Despite efforts by Cincinnati firefighters to revive her, Counts was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigations into the incident revealed that Counts and Horne were in the company of their respective partners, engaged in a card game at the time of the shooting. Horne allegedly introduced the idea of playing “Russian roulette”, a dangerous game involving a revolver loaded with a single bullet. The cylinder is spun and the trigger pulled while the gun is pointed at someone.
Horne reportedly pointed the gun at his own head initially, although it remains unclear whether he pulled the trigger. He then allegedly aimed the revolver at Counts’ chest and fired, resulting in the fatal wound. The incident has sparked comments from the judiciary, with Judge William Mallory expressing sadness over the use of firearms as toys, describing the incident as a tragedy if the circumstances were true.
Horne’s bond was set at $1 million by Judge Mallory, with a grand jury appearance scheduled for Thursday. Counts leaves behind her husband, Jarod Brooks, her parents, Bill and Becky Counts, siblings Mandy Carlson and Will Counts, grandparents Ann Dement and Larry and Jo Ann Counts, as well as numerous other relatives and friends, as stated in an online obituary.