Teen charged in sister’s death

A 19-year-old rural Goessel teen was charged Sunday in the shooting death of his 15-year-old sister.

Ethan Campbell was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting Thursday morning of Jodi Campbell in the family home near Goessel.

He was released Monday morning on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.

Jodi Campbell was shot once in the upper-shoulder/neck area with a .22 caliber rifle in the family’s home at 266 90th Road, Newton, in Marion County.

Marion County Sheriff Rob Craft said officers were called to the scene shortly after the shooting at 11 a.m.

The victim was treated by Marion County, Hesston, and Life Team medical personnel. She was transported by Hesston ambulance to Newton Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

Initial reports were The brother was at the house when police arrived. Craft would not say where the children’s parents were at the time of the shooting.

Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated the shooting. KBI ordered an autopsy.

According to Kansas statutes, involuntary manslaughter is the unintentional killing of a person, which is committed recklessly or in the commission of or attempt to commit or flight from a felony, that is enacted for the protection of life or safety.

Charges also can be brought in circumstance where a death occurs during the commission of a lawful act in an unlawful manner.

Sentencing guidelines provide for a range of 31 months to a maximum prison term of 136 months.

The incident is one of two Marion County shooting incidents in the past week. The sheriff’s office is also investigating the accidental shooting Jan. 1 of a juvenile near Peabody.

“We need to focus more on gun safety,” Craft said, “hunter’s safety courses, hunter’s education.”

Craft said guns should be stored safely — unloaded, out of reach of children, and away from ammunition. Craft said the sheriff’s office and local police departments offer free gunlocks to the public.