Teenager dead after apparent accidental shooting

EDWARDSBURG, Ind.-- Sunday afternoon the Ontwa Township Edwardsburg Police Department was dispatched to Maple Street in Edwardsburg just before 2 PM. Upon arrival, they found 15-year-old Jessica Heroy, a Cassopolis middle school 8th grader, with a gunshot wound to her head after a 12-year-old boy fired a gun and shot her. Police say the pre-teen took the gun from a safe, didn’t believe it was loaded, aimed the firearm at Heroy, and pulled the trigger. A shocking, heartbreaking incident, leaving the community stunned. 

“We shared the same room, we were like sisters, we considered each other sisters,” best friend and Cousin Brooklynn Jackson. 

In a statement from Cassopolis Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Angela Piazza, she said it will be hard on the Cassopolis Middle School community, saying  

“This loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns and questions for our entire school community, especially our students.” 

Cassopolis schools has set up an intervention team to help any student, faculty or staff member during this difficult time. Her cousin, who calls Jessica her best friend, is trying to help her family the best she can too through a GoFundMe. 

“When I found out, I was in shock and I know her family, our grandpa died not too long ago and we couldn’t afford for his funeral and stuff so I knew right away I needed to do something for Jessica, so I did a GoFundMe for Jessie.” Jackson. “I want her to have a really good funeral and invite all of her friends, everyone that she loved, we are trying to do a school one where you hold it at the school and we just, we want to raise the money to give her something she would like.” 

The investigation into this incident is ongoing at this time and we are still waiting to find out if any charges will be brought forward in this case. 

If you want to donate to Jessica's GoFundMe, click here.