Statesville man faces charges for accidentally shooting, killing girlfriend

STATESVILLE, N.C. — A Statesville man is facing charges after police said he accidentally shot and killed his girlfriend Monday at a home on Treeline Drive.

Police said Jason Tenor, 21, the boyfriend of 18-year-old Cortney Smith, was holding a friend's handgun on Monday and pulled the trigger on purpose because he didn't think it was loaded.

(Jason Tenor)

Investigators said the magazine had been taken out of the gun, but there was still a bullet in the chamber.

Tenor told investigators that the gun was left there a few days earlier by another person. He admitted that he was handling the gun in a reckless manner, but he thought the gun was not loaded.

(Cortney Smith)

The bullet struck Smith in the head, killing her.

People in the house at the time said they heard laughter before the shot rang out.

A neighbor said she ran to help after learning about the shooting.

"I ran over there, I wanted to see if the girl was OK. The boyfriend was on the phone and said that he didn't mean to shoot her,” Beth Oliver said.

Tenor is facing felony involuntary manslaughter and drug charges.

During the investigation, officers said they also discovered marijuana and drug paraphernalia which Tenor admitted belonged to him.

Tenor was given a $15,000 bond.

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