Woman Accidentally Killed After Rifle Discharges at MWC Apartment

A family in Midwest City is grieving the loss of their 20-year-old daughter. They say Destanie Leeson died Saturday night in what can only be described as a freak accident.

Destanie's family tells News 9 she was getting ready for a birthday party around 5 p.m. Saturday inside the Chestnut Square Apartments when an old rifle fell, discharged and shot Destanie.

Robyn Williams can barely stay standing after she just lost her daughter.

"She got up off the couch and walked across, and within 10 minutes she's dead," Williams said. "I heard a pop and I ran over there and my baby was laying back. I blew in her mouth. I heard gurgling. I thought she was breathing."

But Destanie wasn't. Her family says she was painting her nails with a friend at their neighbor's apartment, who kept an old rifle from 1891 loaded on his dresser. Destanie's friend said the rifle fell and hit the wall and shot Destanie.

"And it's like it went off like that. It didn't even last that long," said  Juanita McCane, Destanie's neighbor and friend. "They said she screamed because she was in shock at the loud noise and stuff. And we looked over she was gone. She didn't make it."

Destanie had only lived in the apartment complex for a month with her mother and fiancé.  She grew up in Edmond and went to Edmond Santa Fe High School. Destanie loved spending time with her family and fiancé Dalton. Her friends are stunned over her sudden death.

"Everyone, actually everyone's in shock. It still feels like I'm in a dream," said Violet West, a family friend.

Destanie's mother says her death came at the worst time with her father in need of a liver transplant.

"She came into this world on Cinco de Mayo 20 years and yesterday ended it all," Williams said. "I just don't believe she's gone, and even though I know it was an accident."

The family plans to set up an account to help pay for Destanie's funeral expenses. If you'd like to help them, you can contact Destanie's father Kurtus Leeson at (405) 471-4170 or at 17620 Iron Lane Edmond, OK 73012.