Kadin Thomas Koehler, a 23-year-old resident of Brandon, Florida, tragically passed away on January 4, 2015. Kadin was known for his involvement in the community, being a member of Bell Shoals Baptist Church and the NRA. He had previously worked for Turner Motor Sports in Mooresville, North Carolina, as a fabricator in racing, where he earned a championship race team ring.
At the time of his death, Kadin was preparing to start his studies at Hillsborough Community College.
The incident leading to Kadin's death occurred during a gathering at his home on Kingwood Loop in Brandon. According to reports from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Chad Martin Stall, a 21-year-old from Valrico, was present at the gathering. Stall picked up a loaded .762 caliber assault rifle and, despite seeing bullets in the magazine, aimed the rifle at Kadin and pulled the trigger. The single bullet fired from the rifle struck Kadin, resulting in his death.
Stall admitted to the authorities that he had seen the bullets in the magazine and confessed to aiming the rifle at Kadin and pulling the trigger. He claimed that he did not believe the rifle would discharge when he pulled the trigger. Following the incident, Stall was arrested and charged with culpable negligence manslaughter. Additionally, he faced multiple counts of violation of probation related to previous arrests for burglary, trafficking in stolen property, providing false information to a pawnbroker, and grand theft. Stall remained in the Hillsborough County Jail without bond following his arrest.
The case highlighted the dangers of handling firearms irresponsibly and the severe consequences that can result from such actions. The community mourned the loss of Kadin, remembering him for his contributions and the potential he had yet to fulfill. The legal proceedings against Stall underscored the importance of accountability and the legal ramifications of negligent behavior involving firearms.
