News

Girl, 14, ‘shot and killed by her dad who was trying to shoot birds’

Emma Schultheis, 14, was shot dead in Waterloo, Illinois (Picture: Facebook)

A dad allegedly killed his teenage daughter after he fired a bullet which went through a bird, out of a building and hit the 14-year-old.

Emma Schultheis, 14, was found with a gunshot wound in Waterloo, Illinois, on July 21, and later died in hospital.

Her dad, David A. Schultheis, 34, had reportedly discharged a handgun inside the building they were in after a bird managed to fly through.

He only put his arm through the doorway to avoid a ricochet, but when he pulled the trigger, the bullet passed through the bird, exited the building and struck Emma, who was outside.

Emma Shultheis, 14, with father David Schultheis. MONROE COUNTY, Ill. - An Illinois father is accused of fatally shooting his 14-year-old daughter while trying to kill a bird. Emma Schultheis, 14, died July 21 after being shot on State Route 3 in Waterloo. On Tuesday, Monroe County State?s Attorney Ryan Webb charged her father, 34-year-old David A. Schultheis, with reckless discharge of a firearm and Karen A. Schwarze with concealment of a homicidal death and obstruction of justice. Authorities say Schultheis fired a handgun in an attempt to shoot a bird that had entered a brick building. He allegedly only put his arm into the room, keeping his head outside to avoid a potential ricochet, before pulling the trigger. The bullet hit the bird, passed through it and exited the building through a window, striking Emma, who was outside, according to the sheriff?s department. Schultheis voluntarily surrendered himself at the Monroe County Jail. He was processed and released pending upcoming court proceedings. Schwarze is accused of hiding a gun with the intent to prevent the apprehension or prosecution of Schultheis. She also allegedly attempted to influence people not to talk with law enforcement during the investigation?s early stages.
Emma Shultheis with her dad, David Schultheis (Picture: Facebook)

A woman named Karen Schwarze, 58, is said to have hidden the 0.50 caliber pistol to prevent David’s arrest, and ‘influenced others from speaking to law enforcement’.

Both have been charged in connection with her death. They are yet to enter a plea.

Images from social media show Emma with horses and cattle, even entering breed competitions and winning championships.

Emma Shultheis, 14. MONROE COUNTY, Ill. - An Illinois father is accused of fatally shooting his 14-year-old daughter while trying to kill a bird. Emma Schultheis, 14, died July 21 after being shot on State Route 3 in Waterloo. On Tuesday, Monroe County State?s Attorney Ryan Webb charged her father, 34-year-old David A. Schultheis, with reckless discharge of a firearm and Karen A. Schwarze with concealment of a homicidal death and obstruction of justice. Authorities say Schultheis fired a handgun in an attempt to shoot a bird that had entered a brick building. He allegedly only put his arm into the room, keeping his head outside to avoid a potential ricochet, before pulling the trigger. The bullet hit the bird, passed through it and exited the building through a window, striking Emma, who was outside, according to the sheriff?s department. Schultheis voluntarily surrendered himself at the Monroe County Jail. He was processed and released pending upcoming court proceedings. Schwarze is accused of hiding a gun with the intent to prevent the apprehension or prosecution of Schultheis. She also allegedly attempted to influence people not to talk with law enforcement during the investigation?s early stages.
Emma was a keen volleyball player and track racer (Picture: Facebook)

She is also seen at a number of racing events and volleyball matches.

Tributes have poured in for the teenager, who was described as ‘filled with wit and sarcasm’.

Megan Danielle wrote: ‘She had a way with her words and quick come backs and could have you laughing in seconds.

Emma Shultheis, 14. MONROE COUNTY, Ill. - An Illinois father is accused of fatally shooting his 14-year-old daughter while trying to kill a bird. Emma Schultheis, 14, died July 21 after being shot on State Route 3 in Waterloo. On Tuesday, Monroe County State?s Attorney Ryan Webb charged her father, 34-year-old David A. Schultheis, with reckless discharge of a firearm and Karen A. Schwarze with concealment of a homicidal death and obstruction of justice. Authorities say Schultheis fired a handgun in an attempt to shoot a bird that had entered a brick building. He allegedly only put his arm into the room, keeping his head outside to avoid a potential ricochet, before pulling the trigger. The bullet hit the bird, passed through it and exited the building through a window, striking Emma, who was outside, according to the sheriff?s department. Schultheis voluntarily surrendered himself at the Monroe County Jail. He was processed and released pending upcoming court proceedings. Schwarze is accused of hiding a gun with the intent to prevent the apprehension or prosecution of Schultheis. She also allegedly attempted to influence people not to talk with law enforcement during the investigation?s early stages.
Authorities say Schultheis fired a handgun in an attempt to shoot a bird that had entered a brick building (Picture: Facebook)

‘Her smile would instantly light up a room, and her presence was known and felt the second she arrived.

‘She was going to turn 15 next week and wanted so badly to get her permit, and find a sense of freedom and unfortunately that wasn’t in the plan.

‘I know they always say “God only takes the best” but it’s hard to wrap my head around that when someone is only 14 years old and had an entire life yet to live.’

Sergeant Justin Biggs from Monroe County Sheriff’s Department said: ‘There are no words that can adequately express the heartbreak and gravity of this tragic event.

‘The death of a child under any circumstances is profoundly devastating.’

Schultheis voluntarily surrendered at the Monroe County Jail, and she was released pending a court hearing, while Schwarze is making arrangements ot surrender.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Related Posts:
  • Girl, 14, ‘shot and killed by her dad who was trying to shoot birds’ News Emma Schultheis, 14, was shot dead in Waterloo, Illinois (Picture: Facebook) A dad allegedly killed his teenage daughter after he fired a bullet which went through a bird, out of a building and hit the 14-year-old. Emma Schultheis, 14, was found with a gunshot wound in Waterloo, Illinois, on July…
  • Dad searched and stripped of Marmite he was trying to get to desperate daughter News Zebedee wanted to bring Ben a taste of home after his daughter moved to Iceland to study A family are bereft after their beloved Marmite was confiscated by Stansted airport security as a father tried to satisfy his daughter’s homesick urges for the divisive yeast extract. Zebedee Massey, 59, was…
  • Santa Clara police fatally shoot stabbing suspect Wednesday News SANTA CLARA — Police fatally shot a suspect who had allegedly stabbed another person at a residence Wednesday morning, authorities said. The police officer involved in the shooting was not injured, according to a news release from the Santa Clara Police Department. Around 6:18 a.m., officers responded to a call…
  • Santa Clara police fatally shoot stabbing suspect Wednesday News SANTA CLARA — Police fatally shot a suspect who had allegedly stabbed another person at a residence Wednesday morning, authorities said. The police officer involved in the shooting was not injured, according to a news release from the Santa Clara Police Department. Around 6:18 a.m., officers responded to a call…
  • LA County judge reprimanded by state for threatening to shoot people in his courtroom News A Los Angeles County judge who threatened to shoot defendants, attorneys and others or have them shot by bailiffs for behaving badly in his courtroom has been publicly admonished by a state judicial watchdog. Superior Court Judge Enrique Monguia engaged in a pattern of inappropriate comments from 2019 through 2024,…
(Visited 3 times, 1 visits today)

Related Posts

The meeting before Angel Reese’s interview heard ’round the world

Childhood friends Kyle Teel, Justyn-Henry Malloy reunite in majors

Pedestrian struck, killed by Metra train in Glencoe

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *