9-year old Oregon girl unintentionally shot and killed by man "practicing his draw"

Shayla May Shonneker, age 9

A 9-year old girl, Shayla May Shonneker, was playing in her backyard, in Oregon City, Oregon.  Inside, here mother's boyfriend, 32-year-old Joseph Wolters, an Iraq war vet, was "practicing drawing his gun" when he unintentionally discharged it.  

The bullet exited the house through a wall, traveled 50 yards, and hit Shayla May in the face.  She soon died from her wound.

No charges have been filed.

From an article:

Police said Shayla May Shonneker was in her back yard when she was shot from inside the house, and it appears to be an accident. Her mother's boyfriend, 32-year-old Joseph Wolters of Gladstone, was practicing holstering and unholstering a handgun when it fired. The bullet went through a wall and hit Shonneker, who was about 50 yards away from the house, according to police. 

Police said Wolters had recently been hired for an armed security job with an armored transport company. He told police he was practicing drawing the gun in preparation for his new job. 

Neighbor Cindy Gill said she heard the shot, and the screams that followed. 

"He was trying to start CPR, but he was crying so hard and so hysterical," Gill said. "He was having trouble keeping it going. He would stop and say 'breathe baby,' and I said 'you can't stop. You have to keep going.'" 

Shonneker was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to Oregon Health and Science University. She died when she arrived at the hospital. 

"You'd figure they'd be safe when the kids are outside, but that wasn't the case. It went off," Gill said. "It's just the most heart-wrenching pain, and there's nothing you can do to stop their pain." 

No charges have been filed against Wolters at this time. 

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