"Shoulder shooting" death confusing to readers

By BOB WHITE bwhite@thenewsenterprise.com   RADCLIFF — With a year’s worth of news reports describing the fatal gunshot to an 18-year-old Radcliff mother as a shot to the shoulder, some readers and people close to the case have questioned how a bullet to the shoulder caused a death. Martha Gradick, mother of May 2007 shooting victim Alena Cunningham, was particularly concerned about reports of the shoulder shot, since the death certificate she possesses for her daughter states Cunningham died from a chest wound. Gradick worried inaccurate information was being aired. When the shooting took place May 6, 2007, Radcliff police reported that Cunningham had been shot in the shoulder. Cunningham later died and the original police statement did not change in followup reports. In an interview Friday with Deputy Hardin County Coroner John Clemons, he explained how both reports from police and the death certificate were accurate in stating facts of the case. “What happened is that the bullet hit her clavicle and then went downward into her lung,” Clemons said. The bullet became fatal once it reached Cunningham's lung, he said. Gradick said the shot to the chest would show more intent to kill than would a shot to the shoulder and worried accounts of a shoulder would could affect the outcome of the trial of Cunningham's alleged killer. Andrew Lamont “Country” Edelen, now 19, was indicted on murder and fetal homicide charges. He’s been jailed on the pending charges since May 6, 2007. His trial is scheduled for June 23. Bob White can be reached at (270) 505-1750.