Aaron Sullivan charged in stray bullet shooting death of Blair ShanahanLane

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker charged Aaron Sullivan with felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the death of 11 year old Blair ShanahanLane.

According to court documents, Sullivan, 50, is the owner of a 9 mm Glock pistol. Ballistics testing tied the bullet that killed ShanahanLane to Sullivan’s pistol.

Sullivan was issued a $25,000 bond. He was the only person charged with these counts. Earlier reports cited three other men also shooting the pistol the night of July 4, 2011.

ShanahanLane was celebrating Independence Day with her family hundreds of yards away. The bullet traveled over a lake and through a wooded area before hitting the child.

Following the announcement by Baker, State Representative Mike Tallboy announced his plans to introduce legislation called Blair’s Law. The measures would make it a felony to fire a gun in city limits.

ShanahanLane’s parents were at the news conference, and thanked the public for their support since the shooting.