Man killed by accidental gunfire in Boone, NC

A man was killed by gunfire in an apartment complex near Appalachian State University over the weekend in Boone, NC.

According to the Investigation Division of the Boone Police Department,  Galen Elijah “Eli” Ruble, age 20 of Boone, NC has been arrested in the case.
Ruble is charged with the felony offense of involuntary manslaughter in the negligent shooting death of Jay Franklin Derby on Sunday, Nov. 22.

Derby was in attendance at a gathering at Ruble’s apartment on Faculty Street that Saturday night into Sunday.  According to reports, during the course of the evening Ruble brought out a black power primitive hunting style single shot rifle and tried to discharge a percussion cap in Derby’s direction to scare him.

Both Derby and Ruble are known to be good friends.

Ruble will appear in court on Dec. 15.