Deadly mistake

Man mistakes sister-in-law for burglar and shoots!

Daniel Garcia (l.) shot his sister-in-law Kellie Barnett (r.) because he mistook her for a burglar while she was asleep.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Schaumburg Police Department Facebook)

Kellie Barnett had spent Christmas Day with her sister in Schaumburg, a small town outside Chicago. A fatal decision. Her brother-in-law Daniel Garcia shot her when she went to the bathroom early in the morning and accidentally ended up in the wrong bedroom on the way back.

Barnett had been too tired to drive back to her home in New Lenox (Illinois), 45 minutes away. Sister Angie offered her the chance to sleep in the guest room. This was right next to the Garcias' bedroom.

At 7:15 in the morning, Daniel Garcia called 911 and reported that he had mistaken his sister-in-law for a burglar and had shot at the "dark figure". According to "NBC Chicago," the 52-year-old revealed to Schaumburg Police Department officers that he always has a loaded, semi-automatic Glock pistol hanging in a holster from his side of the bed.

He admitted to drunkenly seeing a shadow in the bedroom, drawing his gun and firing a shot. Barnett was struck in the chest by the bullet. She died shortly after being taken to the emergency room at Ascension Saint Alexius Medical Center.

Apology not credible
According to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, the Garcias had been watching Christmas movies with Barnett until 3 a.m. Which is why Daniel Garcia's excuse of being completely oblivious to the 50-year-old's presence in his home just four hours later does not appear credible by authorities. He was arrested for involuntary manslaughter of a family member and has been remanded in custody without the possibility of bail until his next hearing on January 17. If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to 14 years.