Charges filed in bar shooting

A freak accident involving a handgun and a night out had a Poplar Bluff man appearing in Butler County court Thursday morning and will have him back in court Dec. 22.

Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce is allowing Taylor Riley Whiteley, 25, who is facing charges of unlawful use of a loaded weapon while intoxicated, to remain free on bond.

Butler County investigator Eddie Holloway said, “We got Whiteley’s blood toxicology back. He was over the legal limit. We filed charges on him.”

On Nov. 17, Whiteley was at a Butler County bar and restaurant when he reportedly was in the bathroom, pulled a pistol out of his waistband when he was using the restroom and the gun went off, reports stated

The shot went through the wall and hit a 34-year-old Poplar Bluff man who was sitting at a table in the bar, according to reports.

The victim, who had been shot in the chest, was transported to the hospital before being flown to a Memphis hospital where he was treated and later released.

Holloway said the victim is home and is expected to fully recover.

During the investigation the night of the incident, Whiteley made contact with one of the officers and explained what happened.

Holloway viewed the video taken inside the business.

The suspect was brought to the sheriff’s office. Blood was taken and sent to the crime lab.

Authorities waited on the blood alcohol content results from the crime lab before deciding to file charges, Holloway said.

On the video, Holloway said he watched the suspect “come out of the bathroom and walk over to the victim but we don’t really know what was said. There didn’t seem to be any prior animosity or anything like that.”

Holloway interviewed both the victim and the suspect.

“It was just a freak accident and he had his gun out in the bathroom and fired it,” Holloway said.

The investigator said individuals need to be careful when they are out with a weapon.

“I mean that could happen anywhere not just at a bar,” he said.