Sullivan Teen Fatally Shot By Brother At Super 8 Motel
An 18-year-old Sullivan teen was fatally shot by her brother Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Super 8 Motel.
The shooting occurred in a room at 12:26 a.m.
Mateo Espino, 20, Park Hills, has been charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter. Espino pointed a gun at the victim, but did not believe it was loaded.
Sullivan Police responded to Room 304 to find Destiny Espino, 18, with a gunshot wound to the head. CPR was being administered by two male subjects.
Missouri Baptist Ambulance personnel took over first aid; however, life-saving measures were
unsuccessful and Espino was pronounced fatally injured at the scene.
Sullivan Police detectives began their investigation and discovered that Mateo E.
Espino was playing with a handgun and pointed it at the victim,
He assumed it was not loaded and pulled the trigger. The gun went off and struck the victim at
close range.
Espino was transported to the Franklin County Jail.
According to the probable cause statement filed by Sullivan Police, Mateo Espino, Destiny
Destiny, brother David Espino, and an unnamed juvenile were at the motel, where the three
males are alleged to have consumed four to five 50ml size bottles of Wild Turkey Honey Liquor
they had purchased next door to the motel at a convenience store.
The statement says that Mateo Espino and Destiny Espino were engaged in a discussion about
her future plans when brother David and a friend left the room and walked outside around the
exterior of the hotel room.
David Espino had taken his brother;s gun with him and loaded a bullet into the empty chamber, informing detectives that if he has a gun with him, “he always makes sure it is loaded.”
Mateo Espino stated to detectives that he had taken the pistol from his brother David, as David was alleged to be intoxicated, and assuming the pistol was not loaded, pointed it at the victim. He told her it was not loaded, pointed the barrel of the pistol at her forehead from a short range and pulled the trigger.