Florida mom-of-four is shot in the head and killed after her neighbor's gun accidentally went off while he was cleaning it 50 yards away
A Florida woman was shot dead after her neighbor's gun accidentally fired while he was cleaning it.
Mom-of-four Jennifer Edelen, 47, was shot in the head by the stray bullet while while inside her home on April 11.
Her neighbor had been cleaning the firearm about 40-50 yards (35-45 metres) away when he mistakenly discharged it.
Her daughter was in the Jacksonville house at the time of accidental shooting and phoned police after hearing the gunshot.
Jennifer Edelen (center) was shot dead after her neighbor's gun accidentally fired while he was cleaning it
The teenager reportedly told police she thought she had heard lightening and thunder when the shot went off.
Edelen, who would have celebrated her 48th birthday this month, was later declared dead.
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said the death was not being treated as suspicious, but that an investigation would still take place.
The Sheriff's Office homicide unit's Sergeant Edwin Cayenne said: 'This appears to be a tragic accident with the most unfortunate of outcomes'.
He said the as yet unidentified neighbor was cooperating with their investigation.
Cayenne added that his team were in discussions with the state attorney's office to determine whether the neighbor should be charged.
It will depend on whether police decide Edelen's death with truly an accident.
Edelen's neighbour Linda McHenry told reporters she did not think the perpetrator should face charges.
She said: 'He was my neighbor. He was a good man. For him to come over and say what he said, he shouldn't serve time at all'.
McHenry went on to describe Edelen, who she called a neighbor and friend, as a 'loving person'.
She said: 'She was just a loving person. She was a good person, I can say that. And we shared a lot together'.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to cover the cost of Edelen's funeral, which will be held on April 19.
The mom-of-four (left) was shot in the head by the stray bullet while while inside her home on April 11
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