Father gives handgun to 13-year-old for protection, tragedy ensues

A Wickenburg, Arizona man needed to do some shopping so he left his 13-year-old son and his son's friend, 13-year-old Brady Baker home alone. Before the father left he gave his son a handgun so the boys would be able to protect themselves.
Around 7 p.m. police were called to the home to find the son had shot Brady in the head.
Brady was taken to Phoenix Children's Hospital in critical condition. Two days later he was removed from life support after a final brain scan showed no activity.
Brady's family believes the shooting was unintentional. "They're best friends," said Brady's sister. "I solely believe it was an accident."
Police are still investigating the incident.

Woman unintentionally shoots herself at gun range

A 32-year-old South Dakota woman was at the Garretson Sportsman's Club practicing moves she had learned in a self-defense shooting course.
According to witnesses, around 4:30 Sunday afternoon the woman was practicing a move that involves falling and firing while you are on your back. She was using a 9mm handgun, shooting while lying on her back, when her leg came up and she unintentionally shot herself in the ankle.
She was taken to the hospital in Sioux Falls for treatment. Police did not release her name or her condition.

Gun unintentionally discharged at gun show injures two

42-year-old Charles Pike was at the Lions Club Gun Show at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Arkansas. He picked up a revolver from a vendor's table and unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The bullet struck Pike in the left hand, then ricocheted off the floor and struck a 37-year-old man in the left side of the chest. Both men were taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
"For some reason we don't know, this particular weapon had a round in it and had an accidental discharge," said the gun show committee chairman.
Police are still investigating the incident.

Before he dies, man tells police shooting was unintentional

26-year-old John Fisk Jr., of Columbus, Ohio had been out drinking with two friends when the trio went to an apartment to look at some guns. At about 2:30 a.m. one of the men was looking at a M-1 Garand Rifle. He didn't know the gun was loaded and pulled the trigger.
The weapon discharged and John was shot in the upper arm. He was taken to the hospital but died of his injuries about three hours later. Before he died, John told the responding officers and medical personnel that the shooting was unintentional.
No charges have been filed and the case has been forwarded to the prosecutor's office for review.

Woman fearful of person beating on her front door tries to load shotgun, unintentionally shoots herself

26-year-old Christina Pennington, of Sunman, Indiana was home Tuesday night when someone started beating at her front door. She called 911, telling the dispatcher she was afraid because she didn't know who the person at the front door was.
While on the phone with the dispatcher Christina went and got a 12-gauge shotgun and loaded it. When she took the safety off, the shotgun discharged, shooting her in the lower section of both legs. She was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Police were not able to locate the person who had been at her front door. While police were still at the home investigating, Christina's father-in-law, Anthony Pennington, arrived. Police watched as Pennington nearly struck one of the patrol cars. Pennington was subsequently arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated.


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Albuquerque police sergeant unintentionally shoots fellow officer

Albuquerque, New Mexico police Sgt. Darcy McDermeit and Officer Scott Maher were searching for a possible armed suspect when McDermeit unintentionally discharged her weapon, shooting Maher in the lower leg.
According to reports, the officers entered a building with their handguns in a "low-ready" position, which means officers have their guns drawn but pointed downward. Albuquerque duty weapons do not have safeties, they are only either drawn or holstered.
McDermeit bumped into a wall and unintentionally discharged her weapon.
Maher was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released. It isn't known when he will be cleared to return to work.
McDermeit has been reassigned within the department until the investigation is over.

Man using assault rifle as a crutch unintentionally discharges weapon kills 5-year-old girl

30-year-old Jon Andrew Meyer, Jr. was visiting friends in Grants Pass, Oregon. He told police that he was using his assault rifle as a crutch to help him get up from a couch when he unintentionally discharged the gun.
The gun burst went through the ceiling and hit 5-year-old Alysa Bobbitt and another woman who were in a room upstairs. They were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Alysa, who was shot in the head, died of her injuries. The woman, who was shot in the torso, is expected to recover.
Meyer was arrested and charged with manslaughter, assault and illegal possession of a machine gun. Police did not say if the assault rifle had been manufactured as fully automatic or if it had been modified later. However, Meyer's lawyer said Meyer had been assured the gun was not fully automatic when he bought it.
Reports indicate that at the time of the shooting Meyer was the subject of a restraining order that was taken out by his fiancee. In the petition she described him as an unpredictable drug addict who had threatened her with a gun. Reports do no indicate if the judge had barred Meyer from possessing guns as a result of the restraining order.

Man unintentionally shot and killed when bullet comes through wall into room

24-year-old Ryan Madson, of North Richland Hills, Texas, was visiting friends. While Ryan was in one room, his friend was in another room handling a shotgun. The friend unintentionally discharged the gun and the buckshot traveled through the room's sheetrock, hitting Ryan in the head.
Ryan was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.
The sheriff's office said they have taken statements from witnesses and don't expect to file any charges. "All witnesses were in agreement that the shooter and the victim were in separate rooms of the dwelling. We don't believe at this point there was any criminal intent."

4-year-old hit by stray bullet as she was sitting in her living room, watching television

4-year-old Zahara Walker was in the living room of her apartment in Columbia, South Carolina, watching television. Outside a gun battle was taking place.
A surveillance video shows a group of three men opening fire at people inside a silver Dodge Charger.
One of the bullets ripped through Zahara's front door and struck her in the lower back.
Zahara was taken to the hospital for treatment. The bullet damaged her liver and stomach. She is out of ICU and breathing on her on and is expected to recover.
Police have arrested 21-year-old Marchus Ganntt in connection with the shooting. A police spokesperson called the incident a "disgusting crime."
Zahara's mother told reporters, "I never would have suspected to have to tell someone my 4-year-old daughter got shot, because she was what, watching cartoons? She was at the wrong place at the wrong time? We were at home at the wrong time? You're supposed to feel safe at home."

Handgun unintentionally discharged. Bullet goes through one man's hand, into another man's neck, killing him.

43-year-old Billy Gay and 30-year-old Fodie Green, of Aransas Pass, Texas were at a friend's house, working together to fix a truck's brakes. They needed to life up the truck so Gay went to get a jack out of the trunk of his car. He removed the jack and also picked up a .410 handgun that he had stored there.
According to police, "while Gay was manipulating the firearm, it went off."
The bullet went through Gay's hand and into Green's neck. They were both taken to the hospital where Green was pronounced dead shortly after.
According to a friend, Gay and Green had known each other for more than a decade adding that Gay was "really tore up. Like I say they were really close, every where Billy went Fodie went."
The investigation is ongoing, no charges have been filed.

Man falls asleep holding handgun, shoots himself

A 34-year-old Mitchell, South Dakota man feel asleep on his back porch while holding a loaded handgun.  The man was sitting in a lawn chair and fell asleep around 2 a.m.  When a family member turned on the porch light and opened the door the man became startled, woke up, and unintentionally discharged the weapon, shooting himself.
He suffered a flesh wound and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The man told police he had taken some items from this truck, including the handgun, and sat down on the porch to have a cigarette when he dozed off.
His name is not being released because no criminal charges have been filed.
"He was lucky it wasn't more serious," said the police investigator.

Man showing off his new AR-15 unintentionally shoots and kills 16-year-old

23-year-old Christian Cardon, of Marrero, Louisiana, had recently bought an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle and wanted to show it to his friends. Before taking the gun into his friend's house he removed the magazine and left it in his vehicle. But he didn't realize there was still a round left in the chamber.
Cardon told investigators that he was showing off the weapon to four males and a female in the kitchen. Not realizing the gun was loaded, he pulled the trigger.
The bullet hit 16-year-old Trey Stahl in the neck. Trey died at the scene.
Cardon was arrested and charged with negligent homicide.

Woman thinking she was shooting to scare away intruders shoots and kills her grandson instead

57-year-old Tina Owens, of Jarvisville, West Virginia, heard noises outside her home Sunday evening around 11:30 p.m. Owens and her son, who lives next door, thought there were intruders trying to tamper with their property.
According to the sheriff, "Tina went outside to investigate, in doing so she brought a .40-caliber handgun with her. Upon hearing what she thought were intruders she fired her .40-caliber several times in an attempt to scare the intruders away."
One of the bullets pierced the wall of her son's home and struck 11-year-old William Owens as he lay sleeping in his bed. William died of his injuries.
It is unclear whether there were any intruders. Police didn't find anyone else at the scene when they arrived.
Harrison County Prosecutor said he will seek criminal indictment of Owens in the death of her grandson, William. He said it was a difficult but necessary decision because the case could have resulted in injuries to even more people.
"It's an important public issues," he said, "particularly concerning the responsibility that comes along with exercising your Second Amendment rights."

Man putting away rifle unintentionally shoots and kills 12-year-old

36-Mitchell Gilliland, of Randolph County, Indiana was putting a rifle away in a gun cabinet when he unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The bullet struck 12-year-old Kyle Fisher in the chest. He was taken to the local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police did not say what the relationship was between Gilliland and Kyle. They have ruled the shooting an accident.
Kyle would have entered 7th grade in the fall. He enjoyed all sports, band and fishing.