Nathan Derickson
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – A 17-year-old Terre Haute South High School student died after a house party ended in gunfire early Wednesday morning.
According to WTHI, 19-year-old Nathan Derickson was arrested on a charge of reckless homicide after the incident. Police said Derickson was drunk at a party and started playing with a gun.
He thought it was unloaded when he pointed it at the victim, 17-year-old William Garett Sands, but the gun went off, fatally wounding Sands.
Sands was a four-year athlete, according to the Terre Haute South Track and Field/Cross Country Twitter account.
Very sad day for the Terre Haute South Track and Field/Cross Country family. On behalf of THSTF/XC we hope that all the family and friends find peace. We have lost one of our own. He was a 4 year athlete, even better person. Taken too young. RIP Garret Sands.
The shooting happened around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday at a home on Golf Bag Lane in the Idle Creek Subdivision. Police interviewed several witnesses from the home.
Derickson had a court appearance scheduled for Thursday.
