The Carrolton, KY community is mourning the loss of Chad Wainscott, a cherished regular at Welch’s Riverside Restaurant, who was tragically killed in an accident at a local gun store on Saturday evening.
Ernest Welch, owner of the restaurant, spoke fondly of Wainscott, describing him as a customer he would never forget.
“There are some customers you never forget, and I get pretty attached to people. Chad Wainscott was one of them. When you saw Chad, you saw a smile,” Welch told WLKY.
According to Kentucky State Police (KSP), the incident occurred at a gun store on Whites Run Road. A customer was examining a firearm when it accidentally discharged, striking Wainscott.
Despite efforts by others present to save him, the 50-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation is ongoing to determine why the firearm was loaded.
Welch expressed his disbelief and sorrow over the incident. “I couldn’t believe it; I could not believe it at all. I mean, it just devastated me,” he said.
Wainscott and his father were regulars at Welch’s restaurant, often dining there nearly every day they were in the area. They frequently discussed their love for farming and shared life updates with Welch.
Just a day before the tragic event, Wainscott had shared his excitement with Welch about a recent purchase.
“On Friday, he talked to me sitting here, and he said, ‘I bought me one with a scope, and I could shoot at nighttime if I wanted to,’ and he said, ‘Saturday, I’m going to buy me a scope for daytime,’” Welch recalled.
Unfortunately, Wainscott never got to use his new purchase.
Reflecting on the unpredictability of life, Welch said, “Things happen in life that we got no power over at all. It’s just things that happen, just like Chad. I thought he would grow up to be an old man.”
As the investigation continues, the Carrollton community remains deeply affected by this sudden loss.
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