GBI investigates accidental shooting death of Mary Ariam in Helen

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation released new information Monday on shooting and death of a woman in Helen late Saturday night.

On a crowded and loud Main Street, few people heard the gunshot. A day later, even fewer could believe what happened.

Helen Police say 53-year-old Glen Lampien accidentally fired his gun, hitting himself. They say the bullet went through his hand, across Main Street and hit Mary Ariam, 68, in the side, killing her.

Witnesses tell reporters, Lampien had been hanging out in a beer garden Saturday. At about 10:30 p.m., they say he walked off bar property and sat down on a city bench. Police say he was handling his gun, when it accidentally went off.

"When he was on the guey, he had his hand wrapped up and you could see the blood coming through the gauze they used," eye witness Andrew Morrow said.

While paramedics were helping Lampien, another 911 call came from across the street, where witnesses said they assumed the 68-year-old woman fainted or had a heart attack. Paramedics were able to determine she was also shot. Ariam, who police say was visiting from Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Glen Lampien

"That's horrible," Kerry White said. "We come here every summer. And it's such a family friendly place, it just really makes me sad. And it makes me feel unsafe."

Because investigators believe the same bullet that pierced Lampien's hand, killed the woman across the street, they say Lampien will be charged with involuntary manslaughter.