Local 7 year old killed by stray bullet

kingudaroad · April 12, 2007, 01:35 PM

Tragic story in the local paper today. Apparently a guy was target shooting on his property and accidentally shot a kid jumping on a trampoline 1/3 of a mile away.

A good reminder to be aware of what is behind what your attempting to shoot. And this was just a .22.

Link to news story ...

http://www.news8austin.com/content/y...sp?ArID=182362

RedneckFur · April 12, 2007, 05:07 PM

Thats terrible news, and i agree. know whats behind your target.

I'd still like to know what are the odds of something like that happening though. A stray bullet hitting somone jumping on a trampoline 1/3 mile away, and killing them.. from a 22?

applesanity · April 12, 2007, 05:32 PM

Exactly. As callous as it may be, kids are more likely to drown in their backyard swimming pools.

DietCola · April 12, 2007, 05:43 PM

Very sad. I find it strange though that it was a .22 from that far away.

kingudaroad · April 12, 2007, 05:45 PM

Not a very good day for anyone involved. Very tragic and unlucky. Kid got killed and shooter faces manslaughter charges.

I guess thats why they made four rules of gun safety instead of just three.

Dave R · April 12, 2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

I'd still like to know what are the odds of something like that happening though.

Even if its billions to one, there are billions of .22 rimfire cartridges manufactured each year. I don't remeber where I heard that, but I remember being amazed. It follows that if billions are being made, billions are being shot.

And, as my stats professor once said, "there are people living under the tail of that bell curve." His point being, unlikely things do happen.

Playboypenguin · April 12, 2007, 06:29 PM

I agree with DaveR. Unusual things do happen. If it only happens once it has happened too often. That is why gun owners always have to be extra aware of their surroundings and take extra preautions.

Gbro · April 12, 2007, 07:14 PM

What an awful tragedy. my heart aches for the family and community. I also feel great sadness for the shooter.

How many people shoot without having a proper backstop?

How many rifle ranges have exposed rocks on their berms?

safety cannot take a break, it just can't!

williamd · April 12, 2007, 10:19 PM

Read a story some time ago about a shooter in NY shooting from his boat. Bullet skipped on the water traveled almost a mile, through an open window and into a ladies head behind her ear. Not enough energy to exit. The autopsy found the slug. The detective who figured it out and backtracked to find the lake and ultimate the shooter told the story. Sad. The shooter violated no laws and was not charged. But, like this story, a good lesson in ricochets.

Limeyfellow · April 13, 2007, 07:10 AM

The shooting to swimming pool is not really that accurate to compare, though if you really want to go that way, in this area we lost 8 people to stray shots and 3 drownings in the lake (all adults, mostly boating accidents), non by swimming pool. Still make sure you supervise kids at swimming pools and so on.

Hardtarget · April 16, 2007, 11:45 PM

First impression was 1/3 mile was a long way for a .22. So The little bit of math didn't take too long...just under 600 yards. Not a shot I'd bet on if I tried it...but bad luck will cause lots of trouble. To accidently hit a person like that would break my heart. Such a sad thing.
Mark.

PowderedSugar · April 17, 2007, 05:37 AM

omg..... terrible.... terrible........

old 12 gauge · April 17, 2007, 06:23 AM

a terrible accident that every parent don't want to think about, As a parent, and GP I would be highly up set with the shooter but eventually would realize that it was a freak accident and no one was the blame any more than if the kid had been struck down by a stray bolt of lightning.

.45REAPER · April 18, 2007, 03:55 PM

Similar thing happened here in Chattanooga, TN not to many years ago, on our local firing range some guys were plinking with full auto weapons, when one somehow flew out of the range (its a BIG range, at least around here) and went into a window 1.2 miles or so away, hitting a woman in the stomach. didn't kill her, but she sued and the firing range added more safety features (higher backstops etc..)

April 12, 2007, 01:35 PM	#1
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	Local 7 year old killed by stray bullet Tragic story in the local paper today. Apparently a guy was target shooting on his property and accidentally shot a kid jumping on a trampoline 1/3 of a mile away. A good reminder to be aware of what is behind what your attempting to shoot. And this was just a .22. Link to news story ... http://www.news8austin.com/content/y...sp?ArID=182362

April 12, 2007, 05:32 PM	#3
applesanity Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2007 Location: Commonwealth of Virginia Posts: 1,134	Exactly. As callous as it may be, kids are more likely to drown in their backyard swimming pools. __________________ "SED QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES?" alizarian web design "Up men and to your posts! Don't forget today that you are from Old Virginia!"

April 12, 2007, 07:14 PM	#8
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	What an awful tragedy. my heart aches for the family and community. I also feel great sadness for the shooter. How many people shoot without having a proper backstop? How many rifle ranges have exposed rocks on their berms? safety cannot take a break, it just can't! __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

April 12, 2007, 10:19 PM	#9
williamd Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 801	Read a story some time ago about a shooter in NY shooting from his boat. Bullet skipped on the water traveled almost a mile, through an open window and into a ladies head behind her ear. Not enough energy to exit. The autopsy found the slug. The detective who figured it out and backtracked to find the lake and ultimate the shooter told the story. Sad. The shooter violated no laws and was not charged. But, like this story, a good lesson in ricochets. __________________ "Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns!" Unfortunately, we may be moving in that direction. NRA Benefactor, Conservative!, VN '64-'65. Never sell a gun or a car ... and retire rich!

April 16, 2007, 11:45 PM	#11
Hardtarget Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2001 Location: Nashville, Tn. Posts: 683	First impression was 1/3 mile was a long way for a .22. So The little bit of math didn't take too long...just under 600 yards. Not a shot I'd bet on if I tried it...but bad luck will cause lots of trouble. To accidently hit a person like that would break my heart. Such a sad thing. Mark. __________________ ...even a blind hog finds an acorn every once in a while.

April 12, 2007, 05:07 PM	#2
RedneckFur Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2007 Location: Central NC Posts: 1,424	Thats terrible news, and i agree. know whats behind your target. I'd still like to know what are the odds of something like that happening though. A stray bullet hitting somone jumping on a trampoline 1/3 mile away, and killing them.. from a 22?

April 12, 2007, 05:43 PM	#4
DietCola Member Join Date: May 30, 2006 Location: Pittsfield, MA Posts: 29	Very sad. I find it strange though that it was a .22 from that far away.

April 12, 2007, 05:45 PM	#5
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	Not a very good day for anyone involved. Very tragic and unlucky. Kid got killed and shooter faces manslaughter charges. I guess thats why they made four rules of gun safety instead of just three.

April 12, 2007, 06:29 PM	#7
Playboypenguin Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Great Pacific Northwest Posts: 11,515	I agree with DaveR. Unusual things do happen. If it only happens once it has happened too often. That is why gun owners always have to be extra aware of their surroundings and take extra preautions.

April 13, 2007, 07:10 AM	#10
Limeyfellow Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2005 Posts: 1,380	The shooting to swimming pool is not really that accurate to compare, though if you really want to go that way, in this area we lost 8 people to stray shots and 3 drownings in the lake (all adults, mostly boating accidents), non by swimming pool. Still make sure you supervise kids at swimming pools and so on.

April 17, 2007, 05:37 AM	#12
PowderedSugar Junior Member Join Date: April 17, 2007 Location: Vancouver WA & Seattle WA Posts: 2	omg..... terrible.... terrible........

April 17, 2007, 06:23 AM	#13
old 12 gauge Junior member Join Date: November 3, 2006 Posts: 165	a terrible accident that every parent don't want to think about, As a parent, and GP I would be highly up set with the shooter but eventually would realize that it was a freak accident and no one was the blame any more than if the kid had been struck down by a stray bolt of lightning.

April 18, 2007, 03:55 PM	#14
.45REAPER Member Join Date: February 19, 2007 Posts: 15	Similar thing happened here in Chattanooga, TN not to many years ago, on our local firing range some guys were plinking with full auto weapons, when one somehow flew out of the range (its a BIG range, at least around here) and went into a window 1.2 miles or so away, hitting a woman in the stomach. didn't kill her, but she sued and the firing range added more safety features (higher backstops etc..)