Man Thought A Gun Was Empty When He Handled It. Second Later, His Girlfriend On The Couch Was Shot, Police Say.

A man accidentally shot his girlfriend to death as she sat on a hotel couch and now faces a manslaughter charge, police said.

Around 9 a.m. on Aug. 21, police in Fresno, California, responded to a Hampton Inn & Suites for a reported shooting.

When officers arrived, they found 20-year-old Deisha Guzman with a gunshot wound to her lower body, police said. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police also spoke to 22-year-old Christopher Jordan, who identified himself as Guzman’s boyfriend, according to police. The two were dating and checked into the hotel about an hour before the shooting.

Inside the room, Jordan put his handgun on the bed. He initially said Guzman shot himself but then admitted to accidentally firing the gun.

Jordan said he believed the gun was unloaded because he removed the magazine before handling the weapon and shooting Guzman on the couch, according to police.

Investigators said Jordan did not intend to shoot his girlfriend but that his actions were negligent. He was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and negligent discharge of a firearm.