Harford County Liquor Control Board and state Health Care Commission member Randall Worthington Sr. was killed by an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday morning, police said. He was 59.
According to police reports, Worthington was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in a corn field on the 3200 block of Aldino Road in Churchville shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday by his brother, former Aegis publisher John Worthington IV.
Police said Randall Worthington was found beside the door of a Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck and was lying on top of a rifle. Another rifle was found on the vehicle’s hood, and a box of ammunition, a gun cleaning rod, several rounds of ammunition and an unfired bent cartridge were also located.
According to police, John Worthington told deputies that his brother had arrived at their family farm at approximately 7:30 a.m. that morning, an activity in which he regularly engaged. Worthington said his brother had recently returned from a vacation and was scheduled to settle on a house that day.
No foul play is suspected in Worthington’s death, according to Harford County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Monica Worrell, and police believe the shooting was self-inflicted but not intentional.
Randall Worthington, a resident of Prescott Court in Havre de Grace, was the president and owner of Forest Hill-based York Insurance Services, Inc. He was appointed by Gov. Martin O’Malley to the Maryland Health Care Commission in July 2008, and was a member of the Harford County Liquor Control Board. He was a former member of the Maryland Agricultural Commission.
With deer and goose season being over with, What kind of hunting was this guying doing? Was he a poacher?
This is a very sad story, my condolences to the family.
Hunting rifles have an average barrel lengthy of about 24″. Cleaning any loaded gun is not smart, nor is it something experienced gun owners typically do. How does someone accidently shoot themselves in the head with a hunting rifle? Did the police report actually call it a self-inflicted accidental head shot? There are obvious additional questions that I would think are being addressed by the investigating law enforcement agency…
Again, this is not meant to cause pain or anguish to anyone. I am just question the reporting of this tragedy.
Good points and what about insurance? Would it pay for an accidental death and not a suicide, most policies are set up that way?
Thank God someone else feels the same. There is so much more to this I am so upset about this I know Randy and nothing is right about this at all!
where was wt
Rest in Peace Randy. My prayers go out to the family during this time of loss.
He may have been shooting for fun, or sighting in a new rifle/scope combination; rifles can have barrels as short as 16″ without having special paperwork. My condolences to Mr Worthington’s family.
My condolences to the family.
Kharn,
while you are technically correct that rifles can have barrels as short as 16″ without having to be registered per the National Firearms Act as well as State of MD registration procedures, the other poster is also correct in saying the average length of hunting rifle barrels is 24″. Few hunting rifles have 16″ barrels, which are usually found on tactical (a/k/a assault) rifles. Can you list some hunting rifles with the short barrel for the benefit of other viewers who are less familiar with firearms?
The news article did not disclose length of the barrel, let alone the specific type of firearm. Regardless, if you are sighting a new scope or shooting for fun, SAFETY is the first and foremost concern of any shooter. That said, one does not place the barrel of a loaded gun anywhere near their head unless their is purpose.
My condolences to the family. It does seem that the official cause of death was decided and put to rest very quickly. I’m just wondering if his status and standing in the community was a factor in the determination?
I didn’t know Randy well but met him when he kindly offered assistance to the Bel Air High School PTSA – his kindness benefited many students and is remembered today. My condolences to family and friends.
when he was a little boy, Randy would come to the Aegis with his dad on Saturday mornings. He was a fun kid, running around the press room and into the editorial wing, where he found me and we’d talk. His dad said Randy was going to Caaaataaaabbbaaaaa’ college…and he’d drag out the pronunciation making it funny sounding. I always called Randy ‘The Magnificent Randall’…because he was just such a presence. The last time I saw he and Nancy they were happy, alive with love. I will miss seeing them. We’ve lost a good guy.
Todd-he was a good guy. I ran in to Randy and his wife at the Tidewater Inn right before the holidays. They were having a weekend out of Dodge. He took my seat on the Liquor Board and I hear he was doing a good job there……. I loved listening to his laugh.
I am very confused by the account of this tragic death.
Did his son find him first or his brother?
Did they alter the scene in any way?
Why would a busy business person choose a weekday morning to go target shooting?
Why does it seem premature to rule this an accidental death?
Mr. Worthington was just days away from delivering a major decision on Maryland’s next hospital in Montgomery County. The Sun has missed one of the most intriguing stories in Maryland. He was a great man. But this story has so many mysteries and questions.
Randy will be so missed. We have truly lost a great man,community leader,son,brother,husband,fat?her and a great friend. Who’s life was taken too soon. I have always known Randy as a man with great spirit,energy,hard working although there were times I witinessed the toll from the stresses it took as he seemed to carried the weight of the world on his shoulders over the years he would not give into defeat. I believe it just gave him more insight with his successes and accomplishments How he could light up a room. This is truly a great loss and everyone that knew Randy would agree.
My thoughts are with you.
Mary
WOW LOOK WHO’S IS IN CHARGE NOW!
Who?
WELL, WHO IN HIS CIRCLE OF “FRIENDS” MAY…….WAS THE FIRST TO COME TO MIND AS SOON AS I HEARD.UNTOUCHABLE,DANGEROUS,POWERFUL….I SAID WAY TO MUCH HERE…….I AM SURE MY IMAGINATION IS WAY OVER ACTIVE. JUST LET IT GO WILL NOT CHANGE ANYTHING.