Every year, nearly 3000 children and teens die from gunfire, and nearly 14,000 are injured.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

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.

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