The Washington County Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of Indiana State Police detectives and crime scene investigators Sunday morning after a 911 caller reported a woman had been shot.
The caller said the incident occurred at the victim’s residence in the 6000 block of Mt. Carmel Road in Fredericksburg, according to a news release from Sgt. Carey Huls, public information officer for the ISP Sellersburg Post.
When officers and detectives arrived on the scene, they found the victim was deceased from an apparent gunshot wound, Huls said.
Dr. Bill Ralston, a medical examiner, conducted an autopsy in Washington County on Tuesday and listed the cause of death as a gunshot.
As a result of the preliminary investigation, Huls said detectives believe the shooting was the result of an accidental discharge; however, the case remains open, and detectives are continuing the investigation.
The deceased female has been identified as Heather D. Lawson, 32, of Fredericksburg.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Washington County Coroner’s Office and Harrison County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the investigation.