Eastern WA man dies after a child shot him with pellet gun

An Eastern Washington state man died Wednesday evening after a young child fired a pellet gun, hitting him in the neck, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were dispatched at 6:30 p.m. to the 1100 block of South Schaake Road in Othello for a medical emergency. Othello is about 50 miles north of the Tri-Cities.

Othello Emergency Medical Services and Adams County Fire District 5 also arrived and worked to save the man for what the sheriff’s office described as “a prolonged period of time.”

However, Geovanni Malacara-Hernandez, 33, died at Othello Community Hospital.

Deputies are continuing to investigate the circumstances around what is believed to have been an accident. The name and age of the young child and any other children who may have been there have not been made public.

A GoFundMe has been started to help his family transport his body to Tijuana, Mexico, for burial.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support, love and solidarity during this painful time,” the GoFundMe said in Spanish.

This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 6:30 PM with the headline "Eastern WA man dies after a child shot him with pellet gun."