(Victim identified) CHS student, 16, dies in “horrible” shooting accident

Published 8:00 pm Tuesday, October 24, 2017

By Tiffeny Owens

Jackson Lambert

Cullman High School is mourning the death of a 16-year-old student who died Monday night from what police called a “horrible shooting accident” at his home.

Cullman police responded to an accidental shooting at 8:27 p.m. on the southeast end of town and found a juvenile male dead when they got to the scene, according to reports. Police Chief Kenny Culpepper identified the victim as Jackson Lambert. He was a member of the BASS state championship Cullman Fishing team.

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“Our investigation determined that the victim had been on social media talking to someone at the time, and the witness told police what happened —that it was just a horrible accident,” Culpepper said. “Our officers are heartbroken for the family that’s having to deal with the loss of this young man.”

No foul play is suspected, Culpepper said.

Grief counselors were at Cullman High School Tuesday to assist students, teachers and staff, said Principal Kim Hall.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the student’s family,” she said.

Hall and fishing coach Kyle Morris declined to comment further about Lambert.

Visitation will be 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday at Daystar Church in Good Hope, followed by a memorial service with burial in Holly Pond Cemetery. Lambert leaves behind his parents, three sisters and a brother along with a host of friends and extended family.

“Jackson was one of the guys everybody knew, everybody loved him,” friend Brady Lang told WBRC Fox 6.

“We were more like brothers than friends,” Lang said.

Lang, also 16 years old, gathered with friends at his home Tuesday as classmates dealt with the sudden loss. The teen described Lambert as a loyal friend who would help people out when needed.

“He would sit there and listen to you cry. Anything you wanted, he would do it to see you happy,” Lang said.

There was an outpouring of support for Lang’s family and Cullman High School which has already lost a student in May from a head-on collision involving a driver who has now been charged with murder in connection to the wreck. 

There was an outpouring of support for Lambert’s family and Cullman High School on social media.

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