Court records now lay out the moments leading up to the January 9 shooting that killed 19-year-old Taylor Wilson, and somehow the details manage to make an already grim story feel even more avoidable. Police arrested 19-year-old Matthew Wood earlier this week, charging him with criminally negligent homicide. Bond was set at $25,000.
According to the affidavit, officers were called to a home in the 7000 block of 21st Street for reports of shots fired. Inside, they found Wilson suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. She was taken to UMC, where she later died. This all happened during what was apparently a normal evening of friends watching TV—until guns entered the chat.
Investigators say Wood decided to explain how to disassemble his 9-millimeter handgun. He retrieved it from a small safe in his bedroom along with ammunition and a magazine. Wood later told police he “forgot” to remove the magazine before storing the weapon and didn’t realize it was still inside the gun when he started taking it apart. You know, a minor oversight.
The demonstration reportedly took place in the kitchen, with Wood sitting across the island from Wilson. While sliding the mechanism back and then forward to remove a pin, the gun fired, striking Wilson in the chest. Wood applied pressure to the wound and stayed on the phone with 911 until EMS arrived. Lubbock Police say the shooting was unintentional, which is a comforting word that does absolutely nothing to change the outcome.
At what point does “I forgot the gun was loaded” stop being an explanation and start being the entire problem?
https://www.kcbd.com/2026/01/21/one-person-arrested-connection-west-lubbock-shooting-jan-9/
https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/latest/man-charged-negligent-homicide/
https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/wood-negligent-homicide-charge/