13-year old boy shoots mother dead with hunting rifle in Iowa after trying to sexually assault her

Shooter Noah Crooks, age 13

A 13-year old boy, Noah Crooks, used his family's .22-caliber hunting rifle to kill his mother, near Osage, Iowa.


From the article:

The child, identified as Noah Crooks, calmly called 911 at 7:31 p.m. Saturday night, saying he shot his 37-year-old mother at his home, about 9 miles west of Osage, the Des Moines Register reported. 

The boy allegedly fired a .22-caliber hunting rifle multiple times into Crooks' chest, authorities told the newspaper. 

Investigators have yet to determine a motive in the alleged murder -- the first in Mitchell County in 114 years, according to the newspaper. 

"We're at a loss," Mitchell County Sheriff Curt Younker told the newspaper. "These are good people, very responsible. It is the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever seen."

According to another article, Noah shot his mother after first trying to sexually assault her.

There was no history of domestic abuse or criminal records associated with any Crooks family members. 

The 13-year-old boy who allegedly shot his 37-year-old mother dead with a hunting rifle is also facing 'unheard of' charges that he tried to sexually abuse her. 

Now, authorities are saying Noah Crooks also tried to sexually abuse his mother, which mental health professionals say they have never encountered among juveniles.
....
Mrs Crooks, who was listed with her husband William Crooks as the rural Osage property owners, had worked as a nurse at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa while also studying toward her master's degree after accepted at the University of Iowa in 2009. 

On her Facebook page back in 2010, she praised her son, one of two sons according to Mrs Brahm, for his musical talents on the saxophone as well as his accomplishment in being accepted into a University of Iowa camp to learn Chinese. 

'So proud of him!' she wrote. 

She had also recently published an application on her page reading: 'Click "like" if you love your son!'

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Two women shot in back, one while carrying 2-year old

Two women ran from a gunman in Kansas City, Missouri, and both were shot in the back, one while carrying her 2-year old child.  Both women are expected to recover.

From the article and video:

Two women, one carrying a 2-year-old child, suffered non-life-threatening injuries early this morning as they fled from a gunman on Kansas City’s East Side. The child was not hurt. 

The shooting occurred about 12:15 a.m. in the Ridgeview Heights Apartments complex in the 3200 block of Denver Avenue. 

The women, both in their 20s, were visiting friends at the apartment complex, according to The Star’s reporting partner KCTV-5. 

They were shot in the back and one suffered serious injuries. They ran to a nearby house to call for help, according to KCTV-5.

17-year old Massachusetts youth brought Airsoft gun to school and used it to threaten

A 17-year old brought a realistic-looking Airsoft handgun to school, in Reading, Massachusetts, apparently using it to threaten another person.

From the article:

Reading Police were notified by school officials that a former high school student reportedly showed up on school grounds on March 29 carrying what appeared to be a hand gun. After a subsequent investigation, the gun was located and turned out to be a replica air soft gun of a real Sig Sauer hand gun.   

The 17-year-old Reading youth was arrested and charged with carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds, possession of an air soft pistol under 18, threatening to commit a crime, trespassing, intimidation of a witness, possession of alcohol and possession of a class c substance. 

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

16-year old boy accidentally shoots himself in the leg in an Orlando park

A 16-year old boy accidentally shot himself in the leg while in a park in Orlando, Florida, just steps away from a beach crowded with tourists.

From the article and news video:

Cocoa police said they believe the teen accidentally shot himself. 

"Just kind of shocked to hear about it I guess. You don't really expect to hear about anything like that, especially in a vacation environment," said tourist Chris McIntosh. 

The beaches were packed on Friday and people WFTV spoke with said they were shocked about what happened just on the other side of the dunes. 

"I would not want to send my children down here knowing things like that happen," said tourist John Couden.

Luckily no one else was injured as well.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

17-year old boy shot by police in Charleston

Carlton Lamont Pringle, age 17

A 17-year old Charleston, South Carolina boy, Carlton Lamont Pringle, is recovering after having been shot by police.  A surveillance video showed the shooting, which seems to corroborated the police account that the boy had a 9mm gun and turned to shoot at the officer who was chasing him.  One of the boy's Facebook pictures also shows the boy with a 9mm handgun.  Despite this, the family claims Carlton wasn't the sort.

From the article:

Surveillance video of the shooting, taken from a business at the corner of Gaynor Street and Hock Avenue, shows Pringle running and turning briefly toward Dipaolo, who then fires his sidearm. Critics said the video’s quality is too poor to discern whether Pringle had a gun and pointed it. 

As Pringle writhes on the pavement, Dipaolo holds him a gunpoint and kicks something onto the grass toward himself. Police officials later would release a photo of a Hi-Point 9 mm lying on the grass. 

The gun they say Pringle had pointed at Dipaolo bears resemblance to the one he holds in his left hand and points toward the camera in the Facebook photo. A friend smokes beside him as they both display their middle fingers. 

Capt. Scott Deckard, a police spokesman, said detectives were of aware of the photo, but they do not know if it features the same gun they collected from the shooting scene Sunday.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

8-year old boy shot by 4-year old boy after felon leaves loaded gun out

Three children were at a home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when their mother's boy friends came to visit.  Despite being a felon, he had a handgun and showed it to the children.  He then left the gun within their reach.

That's when the 4-year old boy picked up the gun and shot and injured his 8-year old step-brother.  An 8-year old girl was also present.  The man then fled with the gun.  The victim is being treated.  Police are looking for the man.

From the article:

"You'd think they'd have more sense than to expose children to those things because anything can happen. Kids move quick," Moss said. 

"I got kids of my own. I don't let my kids play with toy guns," neighbor Anthony Olden said.Olden and Winona Grinnage were shocked by the shooting. 

"We were actually trying to move into the neighborhood, but hearing that, I don't really think too much about moving down here," Grinnage said. 

The child's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

14-year old Harlem boy accidentally shoots and kills 13-year old girl in face in home with drugs

Eleanor "Ellie" Kelly, age 13

Four teens, two boys and two girls, were in a home in Harlem, New York, getting ready to go to a dance, without parents home.  That's when the 14-year old boy who lives in the home, Zach Provance, decided to show off his family's loaded, unsecured Colt .45-caliber handgun.  Unfortunately, he discharged the gun, shooting a 13-year old girl, Ellie Kelly, in the face.

During the investigation, the police found marijuana and marijuana plants in the home and arrested the father.  The son was apparently a user of his father's marijuana.

The girl has now died.  From a related article:

A bullet from the .38-caliber revolver used in the shooting lodged in Kelly’s brain, said Deputy Coroner Harriett Garrison.

From the original article:

"He was showing it off," sheriff's Investigator Randall Chambers said of the .38-caliber revolver during the hearing. 

The gun was found in the kitchen, where Kelly was shot. 

"He said he did it," Chambers said. "That he was messing around with the gun. He thought it was cool showing it off. It accidentally discharged." 

Shooter Zach Provance, age 14

No adults were in the home at the time, he said. 

"He had the hammer back," Chamber said. "He explained that he was trying to release the hammer with his finger in front of it so he could ease it back down, when it slipped off his finger and discharged." 

Kelly, of the 6200 block of Otis Way in Harlem, was airlifted to the Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center, where she is being treated, Morris said.
....
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office was called in to assist in the case, and inside the home investigators discovered "18.4 grams of marijuana, three marijuana plants, two partially smoked marijuana cigarettes and three bags of marijuana seeds," along with a Colt .45 pistol and marijuana-growing paraphernalia, according to a police report. 

[The father] Provance then was arrested, Morris said. Authorities said Provance also had two other handguns and a rifle inside the home. 

Juvenile Court Probation Officer Rodney Brown said at the hearing that the boy admitted he had smoked marijuana. But a drug test revealed no marijuana in his system, Brown said.
....
"This is what happens when parents have guns in the home and do not secure (them)," [Judge] Flanagan said at the hearing, before directing his attention to Provance. "I have strong concerns when I have a child using marijuana and dad is growing it. Dad, I don't know what they charged you with yesterday, but when you come back and see me, there will probably be a couple of more charges."

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

UPDATE (4/4/12):  Ellie's organs were donated to save others.

“There are some spirits that just won’t go away, and hers is one of them,” Cynthia Lowe said Tuesday. The Harlem girl who had just turned 13 was shot in the face Thursday. On Sunday, her mother donated her organs to six other children.

“I know that’s what Ellè would want,” her mother said. “That’s what Ellè would demand.”

....
Ellè was a bright, outgoing girl who loved art and music and loved to play the drums, her mother said. She loved Japanese anime and Japanese culture and was learning to speak the language.

“She was bound and determined to move to Japan and become a graphic designer,” her mother said. “She just loved the culture.”

She was the youngest of triplets and was close with her brothers, Daniel and Jarrod, Lowe said. They could often be found playing video games or running around with friends, she said. She was girlish enough to have My Little Pony stuff in her bedroom but grown-up enough to decide to cut her own hair and dye it without mom’s permission.

“She’s just now starting to blossom and become a young lady,” her mother said.

....
She told the doctors her daughter wanted to be an organ donor, and they quickly found matches for her lungs, liver and pancreas. Her kidneys went to two different children, but it was a struggle to find a good match for the heart. A recipient was finally located over the weekend, and the surgery performed Sunday morning.

It is some comfort to Lowe to know those organs might be saving a child’s life and relieving the worst fears of another parent.

“I’m hoping and praying it does, especially them being children,” she said. “They still have a whole life ahead of them. And I feel like part of her is going to continue to live.”

.

Mother ( and her boyfriend) of 3 year old who shot himself found guilty of manslaughter

A few weeks ago we wrote about a 3 year old Washington toddler who found a loaded gun in his car and shot himself. His parents left him in the car while they went into the gas station. Now the mother and her boyfriend have been charged with manslaughter. From the article:

“Nothing is sadder than the death of a child, and when the death is the result of criminal negligence, there needs to be accountability,” Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said. “Guns are inherently dangerous, and the law, as well as common sense, requires that guns be handled responsibly, especially around children.” 

(...) In Julio’s case, Vita and McIntosh had stopped for gas in Tacoma. Vita, who has a concealed weapons permit, removed his gun from his waistband to avoid alarming the clerk and placed it under the passenger seat, the prosecutor said.

Julio had unbuckled himself and climbed into the front seat to ask his mother for candy. McIntosh moved the gun from under the passenger seat to under the driver’s seat so Julio could not reach it. Then, she went inside the convenience store for food, leaving Julio unrestrained, the prosecutor said.

Julio found the gun and shot himself in the head. McIntosh’s 8-month old daughter was in the car at the time and was not hurt.

Friends and family told detectives that Vita routinely showed off the gun with a laser sight, including to Julio, and on one occasion he offered to let Julio hold the gun before another adult intervened.

Further:

The child shootings have raised questions about Washington’s gun laws. The state is one of 23 that doesn’t have a specific law to prevent child access to firearms, such as mandatory trigger locks or criminal penalties for adults who allow children to access guns, according to the San Francisco-based group Legal Community Against Violence.

Washington state law is specific about carrying loaded pistols in vehicles, however. A person with a concealed weapons permit must lock the gun and conceal it from view if it is left in the car. 

First of all, allowing a 3 year old to hold a gun is irresponsible. Second, why would Vita think he would alarm the clerk with his loaded gun carried in his holster?

All guns in the hands of a child or teen must first pass through the hands of an adult. This story highlights that very well.

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Article: We need a law to keep guns away from kids

HERE is an op-ed from Heidi Yewman, a board member of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, as published in The News Tribune, advocating the passage of a Child Access Prevention law for Washington state:

Since Feb. 22, three children under the age of 10 have died or been seriously injured in Washington state because adults did not lock up their guns. If 2012 is a normal year, there will be at least five more kids shot by Dec. 31.

We see these shootings as unfortunate accidents; we think that nothing can be done.

Twenty years ago a lot of people died in unfortunate accidents as the result of drunken drivers; we thought nothing could be done. But then we did something about it. We passed laws, and drinking and driving became socially unacceptable. Now a lot fewer people die every year from drunken drivers.

We can also do something about kids dying from bullets passing through their little bodies: We can pass laws that hold adults responsible for failing to properly store their firearms. A majority of states have laws designed to prevent children from accessing firearms. In those states, unintentional firearms deaths have fallen by 23 percent among children under age 15.

Laws are designed to encourage a certain behavior for our safety. Drunken-driving laws, seat-belt laws and speed limits make us all safer. Before all these laws were enacted, people died, and we decided to do something about it. Now fewer people die because they’re drunk, speeding or not wearing seat belts.

There are roughly 280 million guns in the U.S., nine guns for every 10 people. This problem is not going away. For context, there are 245 million registered cars, trucks and motorcycles in America – all regulated – because we now know that it’s not “unfortunate” when children die because their parents are driving drunk or not wearing seat belts or driving too fast. It’s preventable.

So are gun deaths. Washington state leaders should, without delay, pass a child-access prevention law to hold parents accountable – but mostly to influence behavior, much as laws have done with drinking and driving, seat belts and speeding. Because there is something we can do about it.

Heidi Yewman of Vancouver, Wash., is the author of “Beyond the Bullet: Personal Stories of Gun Violence Aftermath” and is a board member of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Thank you, Heidi, for your passionate work to keep children safe.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

10-year old boy shot and killed by 12-year old boy acting irresponsibly with gun

Three boys, ages 8, 10, and 12, were playing games on an XBox at a home in Augusta, Georgia.  The 12-year old then decided to retrieve his parents' unlocked, loaded handgun from on top of the refrigerator and started waving it around.  He then discharged it, striking the 10 year old and killing him, apparently unintentionally.  The shooter then panicked and tried to hide the body.

From the article:

"He retrieved his parent's .22 semi-automatic pistol, began waving it around; he informed us that he didn't believe the firearm worked properly," explained Richmond County Sheriff's Lt. Blaise Dresser. "According to witnesses, he was squeezing the trigger and at some point he had the gun pointed at Hunter ... squeezed the trigger and the gun fired." 

Investigators say the 12-year-old panicked and tried to drag the body to a dumpster outside until a neighbor saw him and called 911. 

"The little boy said that he was sorry he shot his best friend and didn't know what else to do, so he was dragging him to the dumpster," Jones said. 

"Dragging him like he's a piece of trash to the dumpster," reiterated Hunter's aunt, Tonya.
Dresser said the 12-year-old may have thought if he got rid of the body that everything would be OK. 

"We do believe this was completely an accidental shooting, it''s a tragedy, but it's an accidental shooting," he said. 

The 12-year-old is at the Youth Detention Center, charged as a juvenile with pointing a weapon at another and involuntary manslaughter. 

Investigators say right now the parents of the child will not be charged for leaving the loaded gun unattended. Investigators are also urging gun owners to lock up their guns in a safe or in a gun lock. They're cheap, they disable the gun and could prevent something like this from happening.

There is no Child Access Protection law in Georgia, requiring safe storage in homes with children or holding the parents responsible.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

8-year old boy injured when felon father shows off gun

An 8-year old boy in Polk County, Oregon, was shot in the shoulder when his father was showing off his .38-caliber revolver.  The father and mother then lied about how the boy got shot when police asked, and even coached the boy's younger siblings to lie about it.  No surprise, the man was a felon, and other guns were found in the house as well.

From the article:

Deputies were initially told the boy was playing on the family's land and came inside with a gunshot wound, Isham said. The home, located in the 21300 block of Gage Road in Monmouth, sits on about 25 heavily wooded acres, and deputies wondered if a reckless hunter was to blame.

"Originally we thought there was a stray bullet or someone shot at him," Isham said.

But as deputies began to talk to others who were at the home, Isham said, the stories "didn't stay straight."

"Things just weren't adding up," he said.

Investigators now believe the boy was accidentally shot by his stepfather, Steven Hanna, 33, as Hanna showed off the handgun.

Hanna, who is also known as Ricardo Ontiveros, was arrested Monday and booked in the Polk County Jail on charges of reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and a witness, being a felon in possession of a firearm and felony assault.

Deputies also found several other firearms at the home, Isham said.

Today, deputies arrested the boy's mother, 34-year-old Michal Hanna, on charges of tampering with a witness, and a friend, 23-year-old Chesley Libby, on charges of interfering with a peace officer. Both were cited and released.

The tampering charges stem from Steven and Michal Hanna's alleged attempts to coach the 8-year-old's three siblings, Isham said -- deputies believe the couple told the kids what to say to investigators. All three were home at the time of the shooting.

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3 year old Georgia girl shot in home

Takira Garlington, age 3

We have reported on more than a few 3 year olds shot in the last month or so. Here is yet another so far mysterious case in Georgia. The gun was fired inside of the home where there were several adults. The 3 year old girl died from the bullet wound to her stomach. The adults have all been taken into custody while an investigation is ongoing. From the article:

"Depending on what their findings are, and our findings, the cause and manner of death will follow," Guerrucci said. "That could take several weeks."

According to standard operating procedure, police notify the Georgia Department of Family and Child Services in cases involving children "to make them part of the investigation," he said.

The little girl was visiting her grandmother, her great-grandmother Aquanita Carter told the AJC. Carter said she learned about the shooting from news reports.

"When they said 'Cushman Circle' I knew it was my daughter's house," Carter said. "We came straight here."

Carter said her daughter, who owns the home but hasn't been identified by police, didn't own a gun. "She doesn't like guns like I don't like guns," the relative said.

Neighbor Karrin Mateen said she didn't know the family well, but never had issues with the people living next door.

Mateen, who said she's lived next to the family for about five years, said she saw the little girl often and the child looked well-cared for. She didn't know of any previous problems the family might have had with authorities.

"I never heard of any problems with that baby," she said. "They're quiet neighbors like I am."

We will be reporting more about this case as it unfolds. Meanwhile, another 3 year old is dead from gunshot wounds.

UPDATE (3/29/12):  The 3-year old girl victim's name was Takira Garlington.  An 18-year old young man has been arrested for the shooting.

UPDATE (3/21/12):  The shooter was the girl's uncle, 18-year old Larenzo Montgomery.  From the article:

On Thursday, investigators charged Kira's uncle, 18-year-old Larenzo Montgomery, with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct.  

Williams told Viteri they have not been able to speak to Montgomery, who was extremely close to his young niece.  

"The sad thing is we’re not able to talk to him to comfort him, to to let him know that we know that it was an accident," she said.  

The family is trying to find a way to cover funeral expenses for the toddler, who Williams described as happy and always trying to cheer up others.  

Williams stressed the importance of keeping guns away from children. She said the gun involved in the shooting did not belong to Montgomery. 

The shooting appears to have been unintentional.

8-year-old boy shot by stepfather showing off gun

8-year-old Samuel Eschevarria was playing in his front yard in Monmouth, Oregon when he was unintentionally shot by his stepfather who was showing off a .38 caliber handgun.

From the article:

Hanna, who also goes by the name Ricardo Ontiveros was arrested and faces several charges, including felon in possession of a firearm, assault, tampering with a witness, tampering with evidence and reckless endangering. His bail was set at $52,500.

The boy’s mother, Michal Hanna, 34, was also arrested, along with family friend Chesley Libby.

Police said Samuel's mother and grandmother coached him on how to answer questions regarding the shooting while they made the 40-minute drive to the hospital.

Samuel underwent surgery for his injury. His condition has not been released.

12 Year old Missouri girl shot by her brother

There has been another shooting of a sibling- this time in Missouri when a 12 year old girl was shot by her 15 year old brother. From the article:

Fair Play school officials said Monday that Sierra Elliot, who was a sixth-grader in the district, died late Sunday. She was shot Saturday at her family's home west of Bolivar.

Polk County Sheriff Steve Bruce says the 15-year-old boy surrendered Sunday morning in Kansas City, where his mother lives.

The Polk County Sheriff's Department said Monday that only the girl and her brother were home at the time of the shooting.

The 15-year-old brother is in custody after turning in himself to police Saturday night in the Kansas City area, where his mother lives.

There is a continuing investigation into the case. At this point, it's hard to know whether the shooting was accidental or a homicide.

Every gun in the hands of a child or teen must first pass through the hands of an adult.

15-year old New Hampshire boy brings .22 rifle to school

A 15-year old boy, who had run away from home, brought an unloaded .22-caliber rifle to school with him and hid it in the bushes. 

From the article:

A 15-year-old Manchester West High School student was taken from school to the Police Department on Monday morning after admitting to officials that he hid an unloaded .22-caliber rifle in the bushes outside the school, Manchester police told News 9.

The teen's parents reported him as a runaway at 5 a.m., according to police. The parents told police a weapon and some electronics were missing from the house, police said. 

Police said when they arrived at West High School, the teen was in the guidance counselor's office. Police said there is no indication that the teen had any intention of shooting the weapon at school and stressed that no ammunition was found either near the weapon or on the student.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Shots fired amongst teens in a Greenville, South Carolina park

Roughly 200 teens had gathered and were being dispersed by police at curfew time in a Greenville, South Carolina park when someone fired shots into the air, causing panic.  Luckily, no one was injured.

From the article:

Greenville Police Terri Wilfong says her office is investigating a shooting that occured by the entrance to Falls Park Saturday night.  The incident happened just before 10:00 pm, when the city's downtown curfew goes into effect.  "There was a large group of teens, roughly 200 people, and our officers were trying to disperse them when a fight broke out," says Wilfong.  The Chief says one of the officers then saw someone raise a gun in the air, and fire a shot.  "It was very chaotic," she says.

Wilfong says no one was injured by the gunshot, but one of the officers was knocked down, as teens fled the area.

"We were able to get the situation under control," Wilfong says.

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14-year old boy brings loaded gun to South Carolina school

A 14-year old boy brought a loaded handgun to school in Greenville County, South Carolina.

From the article:

Greenville County sheriff’s deputies said the school resource officer at Lakeview Middle School notified them that a loaded handgun had been located in one of the classrooms. The school resource officer detained the student and deputies were called to the school.

The 14-year-old was charged with possession of a firearm on school property and disturbing school. 

Greenville County Schools Communications Coordinator Susan Clarke said that the student has been suspended pending a recommendation for expulsion.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

9-year old Florida boy accidentally kills grandfather while hunting

A 9-year old boy was turkey hunting with his grandfather near Wauchula, Florida, when he unintentionally fired his shotgun, hitting his 69-year old grandfather in the head and killing him instantly.  The grandfather was an experienced and lifelong hunter.

From the article:

Sheriff's officials said Kenneth Lindsey Beach was shot in the head near his hunting camp on land he leased 10 miles southeast of Zolfo Springs in rural Hardee County. The boy, who hasn't been identified because of his age, ran about a mile to get help, but deputies said Beach died instantly.

"There was just nothing anybody could do," said Lee Witt, caretaker for the ranch where Beach leased a hunting cabin. "The boy came and got me, but it was too late. It's just so sad.

....

Authorities said the boy was holding the shotgun when it fired.

"We can only assume that the safety was off and he pulled the trigger," said Hardee County Sheriff's Major Randy Dey. "The first deputy to arrive at the scene said it appeared Mr. Beach died right away."

Authorities said the 8 a.m. shooting appears to be accidental, although it remains under investigation.

Witt said Beach had been coming to that area of Hardee County for about 10 years. His friends called him Fat Cat, Witt said, and he loved everything about the outdoors.

"He liked to hunt and fish and all those things," Witt said. "He was a good guy."

Beach had been hunting wild turkey with the boy for a couple days on this trip, he said.

....
"He was hunting every weekend," said longtime friend Larry Mathis of Lake Hamilton, "He loved it. It was his life. It's strange that he was that good with guns and this could happen. It's just hard to imagine him not being around."

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Children briefly held hostage by irate, armed grandfather in Oregon

Police arrived at the scene of a domestic disturbance in Coquille, Oregon, between a son and his father.  The 29-year old son , who was a felon and was armed, attacked the police before being captured, and the 59-year old father barricaded himself in his home with his ex-wife and his grandchildren and threatened to shoot the officers.  The grandchildren were eventually released, allowing police to storm the home.

From the article:

Upon arrival, Cortland M. Smith III, 29, of Coos Bay got aggressive toward one of the police vehicles and had to be taken into custody by force, the Coos County Sheriff's Office said.

His father, 59-year-old Cortland M. Smith Jr., of Coquille barricaded himself inside the house with his ex-wife and two grandchildren, the sheriff's office said. He threated to shoot law enforcement if they didn't leave, the sheriff's office said.

The children were released from the residence, allowing police to enter the home and take the elder Smith into custody.

Deputies lodged Smith Jr. at Coos County jail on charges of interfering with a police officer, resisting arrest and menacing.

Smith III was lodged at Coos County jail on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, interfering with a police officer, domestic harassment and criminal mischief III.

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14-year old San Diego boy shot and killed

Richie Carrillo, age 14

14-year old Richie Carrillo was a good kid who wasn't involved in a gang, but when he stayed home yesterday while his mom went out, he stepped outside and was shot to death by two young men who might have been involved in a gang.

From the article:

Dozens of family and friends shared tears and memories around a memorial for Richie Carrillo. "They hurt an innocent child," his mother, Elisa Carrillo said. "He was barely living his life." 

He turned 14 three weeks ago, and he was one of five kids. His younger sister, Amor Carrillo, spoke through tears about him. "My brother... he really was a caring person," Amor said. "He loved everybody. Especially his cousins, his sister, his brother." 

Their mom left to get gas last night. Richie stayed back to look for his older brother. Richie was in the alley with friends when police say two Hispanic males in their 20's pulled up in a dark SUV, jumped out and started shooting. Family tells 10News Richie took a bullet to the neck. 

Police haven't said if gangs may be involved but the Carrillo family seems sure of it. 

"He was against all that," Elise explained. "He didn't like gangs. He didn't like dressing all baggy." 

She said he was the kind of kid who wore skinny jeans and stuck by his mom's side. She said he was so afraid of gangs, he limited his time outside. 

This was the third straight day 10News brought you different families who say their son was not in a gang, and was killed by someone who is. 

UPDATE (3/26/12):  According to this article, Richie was visiting friends.

“He was a happy kid, always smiling,” said his aunt, Lizette Carrillo, who lives at the complex. “I’m thinking wrong place, wrong, time, innocent bystander.”

When the shots were fired, neighbors said children were out playing, and a family was gathered nearby for a birthday celebration.

Robert Montelongo, who lives in a first-floor apartment, said that he heard the gunshots and saw the teenager lying on the ground in the small courtyard at the spot where the altar was set up Sunday at the foot of a flight of stairs.

“He was a good kid. He wouldn’t look for trouble,” said Jonathan Zamora, 14, who remembered playing video games with his friend.

He was a “nice, loving, fun, funny,” said the victim’s younger sister, 11-year-old Love Carrillo.

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4-year old girl wounded when jumping on bed with hidden gun

A 4-year old Chicago girl was jumping on a bed when her action caused a loaded handgun, hidden between mattresses, to discharge, injuring her.

From the original article: (which identified the girl as 5-years old)

A 5-year-old girl was injured early Saturday morning when a gun hidden between mattresses in a Marquette Park neighborhood home discharged as she was jumping on the bed, police said. 

The girl was in good condition after being taken to Comer Children’s Hospital for treatment of an ankle injury, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Darryl Baety.

UPDATE (3/26/12):  The girl is identified as 4-years old, and was injured in the ankle.  The father is an ex-felon in possession of a stolen gun.  From the article:

Jarquise Upton, 21, of the 6400 block of South Artesian Avenue, was charged Sunday with one count of felony unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, misdemeanor possession of ammunition and theft of lost or mislaid property, police said.

Upton is accused of storing between two mattresses a gun that went off about 12:20 p.m. Sunday as a 4-year-old girl was jumping on a bed at his home, police News Affairs Officer Hector Alfaro said. The girl was shot in the ankle and treated at University of Chicago Comer’s Children’s Hospital.

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15-year old boy shot in ankle in San Francisco

A 15-year old boy was shot in the ankle in San Francisco, California.

From the article:

The 15-year-old victim was walking down the street when he heard a gunshot, then realized he had been shot in the ankle, according to police. 

The victim saw three males fleeing in a blue car. They had not been found as of this morning. 

He was taken to San Francisco General Hospital to be treated for his injury, police said.

The article didn't speculate if the boy was an intended target or was hit by a stray bullet.

15-year old shot multiple times by other teen in Dallas gang shooting

A 15-year old was shot multiple times outside the apartment he shares with his mother in North Dallas, Texas, shot by another teen.  Both the shooter and victim are apparently gang members.

From the article:

Investigators suspect another teen shot the 15-year-old victim multiple times about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 5500 block of Alpha Road, near Valley View Center. 

The victim's mother heard the shooting and called police. 

The shooter ran away and remains at large. A detailed description of the suspect was unavailable. 

The victim, who was not identified, was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. His current condition is unknown.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

17-year old boy charged with BB gun shooting

Charles Marshal, age 17

A 17-year old boy was charged with shooting an 18-year old woman and her younger brother with a BB gun, in Effingham, Georgia.

From the article:

Charles Marshal was charged with aggravated assault and three other juveniles were charged with reckless conduct in the Thursday evening incident. 

An 18-year-old female walking with her younger brother in the parking lot of the old Effingham Middle School was shot in the chest with the BB gun in what law enforcement authorities called an apparent “drive-by” type incident.

The woman was treated at a local hospital.

17-year old Tennessee boy shot in thigh

A 17-year old boy was found shot in the thigh in Clarksville, Tennessee.

From the article:

Although he was found in apartment 31A, the shooting did not take place there, according to Sgt. Cheryl Anderson. Clarksville Police are still trying to determine where the shots were fired and how many hit the victim.

Police are currently looking for a suspect in the shooting. The lead investigator is Detective Woodruff, Anderson said.

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Child brings BB gun to school in Dexter, New York

A child created a scare when he brought a BB gun to school in Dexter, New York.

From the article:

According to General Brown Central School District Superintendent Steve Vigliotti, a child brought a BB gun to school on Tuesday and showed it to fellow students on the bus as they were going home. 

A student told his mother that he saw a gun and the woman brought it to the attention of school officials on Wednesday morning. 

Vigliotti said the district investigated the incident and took appropriate action. 

He said state police are continuing their investigation. 

It was originally reported that the child brought a toy gun to school, but officials determined it was actually a non-functioning BB gun.

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14-year old Arkansas boy shot by 15-year old playing with gun

A 14-year old Stuttgart, Arkansas boy was cleaning in a home with two other minors, including a 15-year old boy.  The boys found a loaded, unsecured .38-caliber Ruger handgun, which had been reported stolen.  The 15-year old was playing with it and shot the 14-year old in the buttocks.

From the article:

Stuttgart Police Department said there would be no charges filed against the 15-year-old male, who was playing with the gun. 

SPD Ptl. Jessica McSwain arrived at 911 N. College and found the minor in the front yard screaming that someone had shot him. At first the boy said that an unknown suspect shot him and ran from the scene, but it was later found that the minor, along with the shooter and one other minor where inside the home playing with a .38 Ruger. 

The victim said the three were inside the home cleaning when they came across the pistol and one of the boys started “racking” the gun. The suspect said he told him to put the gun down, but the other boy said it was empty and started to fire it. 

That is when the gun fired hitting the minor. 

The weapon was recovered and had been previously reported stolen.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

5-year old girl and girlfriend killed by pro-gun blogger and shooting instructor in murder/suicide

An ex-marine in Central, Utah, Landon S. Jorgensen, had recently moved in with his girlfriend, Adria Jordan Parker, and her 5-year old daughter, Eliza Kate Parker.  But neighbors say they argued all the time.  After another argument, it appears that Jorgensen was moving out, but then he shot and killed the woman, child, and then himself.

Jorgensen was a pro-gun blogger, shooting instructor, and frequent contributor to pro-gun forums.

From the article:

Friday, Washington County Sheriff's Lt. Rob Tersigni said a preliminary investigation showed that Jorgensen, 24, shot and killed 25-year-old Adria Jordan Parker and her daughter, Eliza Kate Parker, before shooting and killing himself. 

Jorgansen apparently had recently moved into the home with Parker. The bed of his  pickup truck parked outside the house was filled with his possessions, leading investigators to speculate that he may have been moving out. 

One neighbor said he often heard screaming and yelling coming from the house at all hours, but police had never been called.
....
Eliza attended kindergarten at Enterprise Elementary School. School secretary Tammie Evans said students were told Friday morning that there had been a death, without going into detail, and that a crisis team from the Washington County School District was available if they needed to talk.
.....
Jorgensen is a former U.S. Marine and gun enthusiast, according to neighbors and investigators. He had a blog, "Guns, Freedom and Politics: One young man's perspective," in which he said he aspired to own a gun shop and shooting range one day. Jorgensen was also the former president of the Red Cliff rifle group. 

Jorgensen taught a tactical pistol class as late as June, a post on the Southern Utah Pistol & Revolverwebsite states. He also offered to teach a class for people to receive their Utah concealed firearms permit.
....
On his blog, he wrote, "I am a USMC veteran and was medically discharged for my back issues. When I was discharged I immediately got into being a firearms instructor. My passion is to teach people the correct way to use firearms so that they can be both safe and fun."
He listed "Arguing With Idiots" by Glenn Beck as his favorite book. 

At the forum of the website concealedcarryforum.com, where Jorgensen was a frequent contributor, many people expressed shock and sadness over his death.

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8-year old Virginia girl shot by stray bullet while eating supper

Lashea Tolvier, age 8

8-year old Lashea Tolvier was sitting down to eat her supper in her Hampton, Virginia home when a group of gunmen exchanged fire outside her home.  One of the bullets, from a .45-caliber handgun, entered Lashea's home and struck her in the neck.  She is now in critical condition.

From the article:

On Wednesday, neighbors said a group of men exchanged gunfire on Augusta Street and fled toward Shell Road around 8:45 p.m. Lamont Brown, who is the victim's cousin, said he was standing outside in the street when he heard seven to nine gunshots ring out. 

"I saw at least one person running," Brown said. Then he heard screaming outside of the house where LaShae had been shot. Brown said his son was also inside the home at the time. 

Stokes said that his daughter was inside the home preparing to eat a late supper. Her mother had set up a tray table for her in the living room when the bullet came into the house. He hadn't spoken to his daughter, she was in a sedated state, but nurses at the hospital assured him she would be okay, he said. 

LaShae is in the 2nd grade at Merrimack Elementary School in Hampton. Her father said she loves animals and enjoys petting the neighborhood dogs. She is the youngest of six children.
"She's a very sweet girl," Stokes said. "She cares about everybody. She didn't deserve this."
Stokes said the family has lived at the home for about 8 years. 

Stokes, along with other neighbors in the area, said they were fed up with crime. 

"They have no regard for a person's life," Stokes said. He shook his head. "You can't control that gun." Stokes said he hoped that police would have a more visible presence in the neighborhood after the incident.

(a related article and news footage)

Bullets don't know when to stop.

16-year old Norwalk, California boy shot in likely gang shooting

A 16-year old boy is in grave condition after being shot by two teen boys around the same age, in what appears to be a gang-related shooting.

From the article:

The young victim was standing behind a business on the 11900 block of Firestone Boulevard with two friends when he was approached by two other young men, authorities said. 

"Some words were exchanged. We're not sure what," Francisco said. "Witnesses believed it was possibly gang-related." 

Both attackers then pulled handguns and fired at the victim, striking him, "multiple times," Francisco said. 

The wounded teen was taken to a hospital where he remained hospitalized in "grave condition," she said. The friends the victim was with were not injured. 

Officials initially described the attackers only as Latino boys of about 16 years old, wearing shorts and black jackets. 

The shooters were last seen fleeing the area on foot, Francisco added. No vehicle was seen in connection with the crime. 

Sheriff's gang detectives have joined homicide detectives in the investigation.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

15-year old boy brings gun to Washington school

A 15-year old student brought an unloaded gun to his Port Orchard, Washington junior high school.

From the article:

Kitsap County sheriff's Deputy Scott Wilson says the teen was arrested Thursday for investigation of possessing a dangerous weapon on school property. The gun was not loaded. 

Wilson says a deputy went to the school after a child told a parent about seeing the gun and the parent called 911. The deputy found the teen at lunch and asked whether he had anything in his backpack. Wilson says the student told the deputy about the semi-automatic handgun. 

Wilson says it appears that the boy never threatened anyone although multiple students at John Sedgwick Junior High saw the gun.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Two teens bring gun to Nashville middle school

Two teens, ages 13 and 14, were caught with an unloaded gun at a Nashville, Tennessee middle school.

From the article:

Police arrested a 13-year-old 7th grader and a 14-year-old 8th grader. Officials said the gun was an unloaded 32-caliber revolver. 

Investigators say the 13-year-old told them he took the gun to school and gave it to the 14-year-old. Police found it in the 8th grader's locker at Brick Church Middle School. 

Both teens were charged in Juvenile Court with unlawfully carrying a gun on school property.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Who will protect the children from gun violence?

Marian Wright Edelman is the Director of the Childrens' Defense Fund. Every year, the organization releases information about children and gun deaths. She has written this wonderful article in light of the Trayvon Martin shooting. Here is from the article:

Where is the outrage over every single one of the thousands of children and teens killed by guns -- too many by gun slinging Americans unrestrained by common sense gun control laws. Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, also known as the “shoot first, ask questions later” law, is now under national scrutiny. But will it and others be changed to protect children rather than gun owners and sellers?

April 16 marks the fifth anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre where 32 students and faculty were killed by a gun, 25 others were injured, and many more were traumatized. Each year since then has seen gun victims -- young children, teenagers, young adults, a member of Congress, a federal judge and many more. Days, weeks, months and years go by and little or nothing -- except fleeting headlines, tears, trauma and talk -- is done to protect children instead of guns.

And then come the grim statistics:

The 5,740 children and teens killed by guns in 2008 and 2009:

Would fill more than 229 public school classrooms of 25 students each;

Was greater than the number of U.S. military personnel killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan (5,013).

The number of preschoolers killed by guns in 2008 (88) and 2009 (85) was nearly double the number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2008 (41) and 2009 (48).

Black children and teens accounted for 45 percent of all child and teen gun deaths in 2008 and 2009 but were only 15 percent of the total child population.

The leading cause of death among black teens ages 15 to 19 in 2008 and 2009 was gun homicide. For white teens 15 to 19 it was motor vehicle accidents followed by gun homicide (2008) and gun suicide (2009).

Of the 116,385 children and teens killed by a gun since 1979 when gun data was first collected by age, 44,038 were black -- nearly 13 times more than the number of recorded lynchings of black people of all ages in the 86 years from 1882 to 1968. But more white than black children and teens have died from gun violence which threatens all in America everywhere.

By any standards of human and moral decency, children in America are under assault, and by international standards, America remains the unchallenged world leader in children and teen gun deaths.

Analysis of the most recent data from 23 high-income countries reported that 87 percent of all firearm deaths of children under 15 were in the United States. The rate of U.S. gun homicides for teens and young adults 15 to 24 was 42.7 times higher than the overall gun homicide rate for that same age group in the other countries.

Edelman makes some much needed points about what should be done:

 We have so much work to do to build safe communities for our children. We need leaders at all levels of government who will protect children over guns. We need a relentless, powerful citizens’ voice to break the gun lobby’s veto on common sense gun policy. Our laws must control who can obtain firearms and close the gun show loophole, require consumer safety standards and childproof safety features for all guns, and strengthen child access prevention laws that ensure guns in the home are stored safely and securely. And all must take action and ask political candidates this fall what steps they will take to protect children from guns. We must remove guns from our homes where children so often find them and put themselves and others in harm’s way and combat cultural glorification of guns and violence. As a nation, we must aspire and act to become the world leader in protecting children against guns rather than leading the world in child victims of guns. Every child’s life is sacred and it is long past time that we protect it.

Elections will be upon us soon enough. Will we hold our elected leaders and candidate accountable when it comes to protecting our children? If we don't, 8 children a day will continue to be shot to death.

Washington middleschool student brings gun to school

Once again, a child brings a gun to school in Washington state, to a middle school in South Kitsap.

From a letter sent by the school to parents:

A Student was found to be in possession of a handgun. The gun was unloaded and not used in a threatening manner. The students that witnessed this reported it to adults and law enforcement was contacted. School Administration and the Kitsap County Sheriff’s department worked cooperatively and immediately took care of the situation. Staff and students were not in danger at anytime.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Two boys, ages 15 and 16, charged for having gun at Michigan school

Two boys, ages 15 and 16, were caught with a gun at a Mancelona, Michigan school.

From the article:

"When you take a firearm into a school, that's a serious threat to the community," Koop said. "Either we take guns seriously, or we don't."

One of the males was charged with two weapon felony charges, a drug possession charge, and a possession of tobacco charge; the other was charged with three weapon felony charges.
Reports of the events indicated there was a transfer of a small caliber handgun between two students on a school bus before arriving at the high school, Koop said.

One of the two students involved then wore the weapon in his waistband.

No injuries were reported and the students were apprehended without incident, Antrim County Sheriff Daniel Bean said in a statement. Authorities recovered the small caliber handgun, but it was not loaded. One of the students, however, was in possession of a bullet, Koop said.

"This situation appears not to be of harming anyone," Bean said in the statement. "One of the boys wanted to purchase a gun for personal use such as target shooting."

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

16-year old boy robs 17-year old at gunpoint in Washington

A 16-year old Kennewick, Washington boy held up a 17-year old boy at gunpoint.  In searching for the suspect, a local school was on lockdown temporarily, though the boy turned out not to be there, and was eventually captured off-campus.  The gun has not yet been located.

16 year old Kentucky boy shot by man with many parole violations

One wonders some days how so many people who shouldn't have guns have them anyway. Such is the case of this shooting in Kentucky of a 16 year old boy by a man who got probation and not jail time. From the article:

Hayes has been given several chances to get his act together over the years, including being sentenced to probation rather than prison time in both of those cases, according to court documents. Even when he violated the terms of his probation by testing positive for drugs and threatening a probation officer, judges altered the terms of his probation so he could avoid jail time.

Now, Hayes, 21, is charged with murder in the death of Chaz A. Black, 16. Black — a popular student who had once served as the Blue Devil mascot at a Henry Clay basketball game — was shot to death in an apartment on Palumbo Drive on Sunday. Hayes was serving probation for the two felony convictions at the time of Sunday's shooting.

He pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Tuesday. He declined to speak with reporters, a Fayette County Detention Center spokeswoman said.

Despite his history of conflicts involving guns, according to court records, Hayes' friends and family members have written about two dozen letters to judges in Hayes' two previous felony cases, saying he was a troubled young man who "learned his lesson" each time he was arrested and subsequently released on probation.Some of the letters were signed by more than 100 people.

But judges over the past few years seemed to believe what friends and family said about Hayes:

Throughout the years of court proceedings, family members and friends wrote 23 letters to judges defending Hayes, suggesting he was bipolar, depressed and had suffered from chronic pain from a basketball injury, which led to drug use.

"Deionta isn't a violent person and is not a danger to the community," a letter from family member Crystal Burnett said. "He is a young man that is crying out for help, and I think that if you give him another chance then you will be able to see what a good person he is."

Letters said Hayes was guilty of hanging out with the wrong people. A letter from his mother, Sherylena Burnett, said Hayes got in trouble because of conflicts with "westside boys."

It turns out that Hayes was actually a "danger to the community" and now a 16 year old is dead.

13 year old Tennessee girl shot while being chased

Keoshia Ford, age 14

A young Tennessee girl is in critical condition after being shot several times as yet unidentified people were chasing her. Here is the scene- from the article:

A witness, who asked not to be identified, said Sunday that her niece and a friend were going outside between 8:30 and 9 p.m. on Saturday night when they saw Keoshia, distraught and saying that she was being chased.

While the witness was ushering her children inside, she heard shots ring out, she said. After securing the children, the woman came back to find Keoshia had been shot behind her ear and in her chest. There was no sign of the shooters. She said she called police.

"This child was an innocent bystander," the woman said.

Keoshia's father, Michael Ford, said he doesn't know who would want to harm his daughter or why. He said Keoshia was visiting a friend on Bennett Avenue when she was attacked.

"All I know is that my baby's fighting for her life," he said.

He wondered if a gang dispute is to blame, adding that police told him the bullets came from two different guns.

And also, sadly:

This shooting marks the second of the weekend in Chattanooga. On Saturday, two men were shot on Fagan Street, one fatally.

There have been 22 shootings, with four fatalities, in Chattanooga so far this year, Chattanooga Times Free Press records show.

Little girls should not have to be chased on our streets and shot by people with guns.


UPDATE (7/24/12):  The shooting is thought to have been from a shootout between gangs.  Keoshia is now 14 and is severely disabled by the shooting, requiring 24-hour care, diapers, feeding tube, and help with all basic activity.   From a follow-up article:

Family members remain hopeful Keoshia will recover. In recent weeks, she has begun to jerk her arms and legs in movements, take deep labored breaths and make noises, which they believe is her attempting to speak.

"Every day, she'll try to do something. She'll move," Matthews said.

The teen's days are predictable; a 24-hour care schedule is posted on the wall. Her tracheal breathing tube is changed once a week. Her diaper is checked six times a day. She is repositioned every two hours -- right, left and back.

"She always was wanting to go places, and now I just see my child laying in bed," Matthews said as tears streamed down her face. "I'm used to her getting up and moving around. She never did want to stay still."

An assortment of cards wishing Keoshia well decorates the walls. A bronzed basketball trophy of a girl taking a jump shot still sits near the window. A recliner takes up space in the corner for the nurses, two of them, each working a 12-hour shift.

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14-year old Washington boy caught with gun in school

A 14-year old Renton, Washington boy was caught with an unloaded handgun at school after showing it off to fellow students.

From the article:

The King County sheriff's office says a 14-year-old Renton, Wash., boy has been arrested after bringing a handgun to school.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Cindi West says the gun found Monday at Northwood Middle School wasn't loaded and the boy didn't have any ammunition with him.

West tells KOMO-TV (http://is.gd/3Uajl1 ) the boy reportedly showed the gun to one student and was overheard telling several others he had a gun. The students told school security, which took the boy out of class. Officers arrested him and took him to juvenile detention.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

9-year old Downs Syndrome boy gets gun under bed and shoots his cousin

A 9-year old boy with Downs Syndrome, and his mother, from Kentucky were visiting the boy's 76-year old uncle and 16-year old male cousin in St. Petersburg, Florida.  That's when the 9-year old found a loaded, unsecured .45-caliber Glock handgun and pointed it at his older cousin, then pulled the trigger, injuring the teen in the hand and neck.  Two assault rifles, and AK-47 and an AR-15, were also unsecured under the bed.

From the article:

A 76-year-old father was the owner of a gun that was used on his teenage son by a 9-year-old cousin Saturday, according to police.

The victim, 16-year-old Anas Jaber of 817 85th Ave. N, spent a night in the hospital after he was shot in the hand and the neck with a .45-caliber Glock pistol. Detectives will turn over the findings of their investigation to the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office this week, police spokesman Mike Puetz said.

No arrests have been made.

According to Puetz, three weapons — the pistol, an AK-47-style rifle and an AR-15-type rifle — were kept in the home under the bed of the father, Jaber Mohammed Jaber. Police confiscated the weapons, though the elder Jaber was legally allowed to own the weapons.

It was unclear how the 9-year-old boy, who was visiting with his mother from Kentucky, got ahold of the pistol. According to a police report, Anas Jaber was playing video games in the home about 3 p.m. Saturday when he noticed that his cousin was pointing a gun at him. The teen raised his left hand and told his cousin to put the gun down when it went off.

A bullet passed through Anas Jaber's hand and went into his neck, police said. He was taken to Bayfront Medical Center and released after being treated for superficial wounds.

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

Man threatens son with gun when son doesn't pay $3 for gas

54-year old Joseph Warren Hill, of St. Lucie County, Florida, picked up his son and the son's girlfriend in his truck.  He was verbally abusive, and after they got to where they were going, he demanded that his son pay $3 for gas money.  When the son refused, the father threatened him with a .25-caliber handgun before driving off.

From the article:

The son's girlfriend said she called Hill for a ride home, and Hill picked her and his son up at Georgia Avenue and U.S. 1. The girlfriend was in the front seat and she thought Hill was drunk after he began getting "vulgar and verbally abusive."

Hill asked his son's girlfriend for gas money when they got home, and she told her boyfriend to give Hill $3 for fuel, but he refused.

The girlfriend said Hill and his son argued, with Hill getting a gun from the truck. The girlfriend said she called 911.

Hill's son said his dad pointed a gun at his face. He said he asked his dad whether he was going to shoot him over $3, and that his dad said, "Yes."

The couple said Hill drove off.

Investigators went to Hill's home in the 200 block of Euclid Street. Hill said all his guns were in storage in Titusville, but a deputy found a loaded .25 caliber pistol hidden in a KFC chicken bucket in the bedroom.

Hill said he's afraid of his son and feared for his life. He denied pulling a gun from his truck.

Hill said his son and his son's girlfriend "are lying and are out to ruin his life because he will not lie for his son in court."

He said he's been in "armed security" for about 17 years and was afraid of being beaten up by his son.

Hill was arrested on an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge.

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4-year old repeatedly shot with BB gun by father

A 4-year old boy was repeatedly shot with a BB gun by his father, in Washington, Missouri.

From the article:

Police said the prosecuting attorney's office charged Dennis K. Pohl, 32, with one count of felony child abuse Tuesday afternoon. He was being held on a $25,000 cash-only bond.

Police received a call Monday, March 19, from the Franklin County Childrens Division to investigate a report of a 4-year-old child who suffered bruises allegedly inflicted by his father, Hahn said in a prepared statement released Tuesday morning.

The child told officials that his father shot him with a BB gun and Washington officers verified the bruising was consistent with being shot with a BB gun.

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Stray bullet lodges in leg of 8 year old Minnesota girl

This 8 year old Minnesota girl was walking to church when she felt something painful hit her leg. Much to everyone's surprise, the object that hurt was a stray bullet that lodged in her leg. From the article:

Authorities surmise it was a freak accident that may have involved two men shooting rifles on private land at least a mile from Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Hudson Road, said Dan Starry, Washington County chief deputy. He said deputies are investigating why the men were shooting.

The only hunting season open now in this area is for crows, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

It was a warm, sunny Saturday and Heather was approaching the church, walking with her 6-year-old sister a few steps ahead of her parents and baby sister. They were just arriving for a Saturday evening service when Heather began crying, her mother said.

They never heard any shots, Shannon Cooper said. She and one of the pastors said deputies told them later that the bullet came from the north, apparently crossing Interstate 94.

(...) "It was apparent the rifle round traveled a long distance before striking the young girl," Gutteriez, who helped deputies canvass the area, wrote in a report. 

(...)She still doesn't know quite what to think of getting hit by a stray bullet, but the girl had, in her tiny voice, a clear message.

"People should be careful," she said.

Indeed. People should be careful. Little girls should be able to walk to church without being hit by stray bullets.

(a related video, about how many localities only specify a 500 foot safety range, despite the fact that bullets can travel a mile or more)