COLUMBUS – A shooting instructor failed to ensure his gun was empty and fired a fatal shot into a correctional officer’s chest during an April training exercise, according to investigative documents released by the victim’s family.
The trainer was standing in front of Lt. Randy Osborne to give him further instructions when he pulled the trigger, hitting Osborne just above his body armor, according to the Ohio Highway State Patrol report.
David Pearson, a state corrections instructor, pleaded not guilty in early August after being charged with involuntary manslaughter. Pearson’s attorney declined to comment on the report and said a preliminary hearing is scheduled for September.
Pearson was the lead instructor during the April 9 exercise at a state Department of Corrections facility in Pickaway County. He told investigators he demonstrated drawing his weapon during a non-live ammunition exercise.
“I thought I was clean. I thought I was OK. I thought it was clean,” Pearson told investigators.
Osborne, 43, worked on special operations teams for the Department of Corrections and served at the state prison in Lucasville.
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