Two small children injured by shotgun during dispute in Missouri

A domestic dispute broke out between a husband and wife in their home in Joplin, Missouri. A third person got involved, and the husband and third person fought over a loaded shotgun.  The gun went off, and pellets hit two small children, a 2-year old girl and 4-year old boy.  

Luckily, the wounds do not appear life-threatening.

From an article:

Capt. Derek Walrod of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department said the shooting came to light when a 2-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy were brought to the emergency room of Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital in Carthage with shotgun pellet wounds. 

Walrod said sheriff’s deputies were called to the hospital at 11:20 a.m. and learned that the shooting had taken place at a residence in Brooklyn Heights. 

“It was determined this was the result of a domestic dispute between a husband and wife,” Walrod said. “Somehow, a third party got involved, the father of the wife.” 

He said a struggle for control of a shotgun ensued between the husband and the father of the woman and the gun discharged, striking the children. 

“It’s my understanding the injuries to the children are not life-threatening,” Walrod said.
But the children were flown by medical helicopter to a hospital in Springfield after receiving initial treatment at the hospital in Carthage. 

Both the husband and the father of the woman were in custody Monday afternoon pending the filing of domestic assault charges. Their names have yet to be released.

UPDATE (11/23/12):   The father, 27-year old Kenton Cowgill Jr., is being charged with 6 felony charges for the shooting.  From an article:

The Jasper County prosecutor’s office filed six charges Tuesday against Kenton Cowgill Jr., 27, after an altercation with Mark L. Wittenmeyer, 48. 

According to Jasper County sheriff’s deputies, the fight took place when Wittenmeyer confronted Cowgill after an alleged domestic assault involving Shayna Cowgill, Wittenmeyer’s daughter. 

It is alleged that during the confrontation, Kenton Cowgill brandished a shotgun, and the two men began to struggle over the weapon. The shotgun discharged, and pellets struck the two children in the face and upper torso area. 

A 2-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy were injured. They were taken to Mercy McCune-Brooks Hospital in Carthage and then transferred to a hospital in Springfield. 

Sheriff’s Capt. Derek Walrod said he was told by a nurse that the children are recovering and their injuries are not life-threatening . 

The Jasper County prosecutor’s office on Tuesday charged Cowgill with three counts of domestic assault, two counts of armedcriminal action and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. 

According to a probable-cause statement submitted by sheriff’s deputies, Cowgill was watching his two children at the home of his parents on County Lane 173. Wittenmeyer went to the house to confront Cowgill about an incident a short time earlier at another address on County Lane 173 that resulted in Cowgill causing an injury to Shayna Cowgill’s head and left eye, the affidavit says.

Wittenmeyer forced his way past Kerry Cowgill, Kenton Cowgill’s mother, to enter the home, deputies said. Kenton Cowgill then reportedly picked up a loaded shotgun, which was nearby, and was bringing the shotgun “in an upward motion toward Wittenmeyer.” 

The two began struggling with the shotgun while the weapon’s muzzle was pointed in the direction of the two children, according to the affidavit. The shotgun discharged, with pellets striking both of the children. The two men reportedly continued to struggle, with Wittenmeyer eventually gaining control of the shotgun and using it in an attempt to injure Kenton Cowgill. The two men then began helping to care for the children and take them to the hospital, deputies said. 

Deputies contacted Shayna Cowgill at the Carthage hospital, and she said Kenton Cowgill had struck her in the face with his elbow during an altercation. He admitted to the assault, deputies said, and was arrested.

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