Sean Rossman

Democrat staff writer

A woman was fatally shot Saturday when her brother dropped a gun on the ground, causing it to fire unexpectedly, investigators say.

Renee Chaires, 39, was at her brother Eric Stayton's home in the 5600 block of Ed White Court in the Chaires Community Saturday night. About a dozen people were celebrating Chaires' and her 23-year-old daughter's birthdays, according to Leon County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. James McQuaig.

Chaires was standing next her daughter in the home's carport when Stayton, 50, began re-creating a scene from the movie "Tombstone." Stayton was twirling a gun in the air when the gun fell to the ground and discharged, hitting Chaires in the neck. She later died.

Stayton has not been charged in the case, but LCSO is still investigating, said McQuaig. He said the department plans to get all the facts and then present them to the State Attorney's Office.