Teen shot and killed taking photo of her friend holding a rifle

16-year-old Selena Lewis, of Maiden, North Carolina went with her friends to look at a Ruger .22-caliber rifle one of them was considering buying.

The rifle seller had left the gun in the back of a pick-up truck on his property so 21-year-old Christopher Webb could look at the gun. The seller wasn't home at the time.

Selena was taking a picture of Webb holding the gun when Webb unintentionally discharged the weapon. Selena was shot in the chest.

Selena was taken to a local hospital and died before she could be airlifted to a medical center in Charlotte.

Webb told police he didn't realize there was a magazine in the rifle.  The district attorney is reviewing the case. 

Woman shoots husband mistaking him for intruder

27-year-old Tiffany Sequel, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, had gone back to bed after her husband, 28-year-old Zia Segule, left for work.

Zia later came back home to surprise his wife with breakfast. When he walked through the front door he triggered the home's alarm system.

The alarm woke Tiffany up and she grabbed a handgun that was near the bed.  Thinking there was an intruder in the house Tiffany fired the gun through the closed bedroom door.

The bullet struck Zia in the chest.  He was taken to the local medical center where he was listed in stable condition.

A neighbor said that while he understands how this can happen, "I wouldn't open fire just like that."

Man arrested on drug charges after police come to his house to investigate roommate's unintentional shooting

28-year-old Coli Ayers, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was attempting to clear his handgun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon.  The bullet struck him in the jaw and caused extensive damage.  Police said he was "severely intoxicated" at the time. 

When police arrived at the residence they noticed some marijuana.  After obtaining a search warrant police confiscated 70 grams of marijuana as well as 14 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 12 glass vials that held a liquid they suspected was a steroid drug, 23 glass bottles for drugs and 255 syringes.

Police arrested Ayers' roommate, John Scruton, on drug possession charges.

Police also confiscated three conventional rifles, two shotguns and a .50-caliber, muzzle-loading, black-powder rifle.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/03/25/3731382/accidental-shooting-at-raleigh.html?sp=/99/102/110/113/#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/03/25/3731382/accidental-shooting-at-raleigh.html?sp=/99/102/110/113/#storylink=cpy

Man unintentionally shot by neighbor target shooting with AR-15 assault rifle

Jeffrey Satterfield was visiting his mother in Elon, North Carolina when he was hit by a stray bullet. According to the sheriff's office, 24-year-old Dustin Stinson was target shooting with an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle. A round went through some woods and through the door of a trailer. The bullet hit Satterfield in the ankle.

Satterfield was taken to the hospital for treatment and released. He was readmitted after he developed an infection.

Stinson has been charged with misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.

Man unintentionally shoots and injures 5-month-old girl

21-year-old Arin Futrell of Durham, North Carolina was standing talking to his girlfriend on her front porch Wednesday morning.  Futrell unintentionally discharged a handgun that was in the pocket of his sweatshirt.  The bullet hit his girlfriend's 5-month-old daughter who was in a car seat on the porch.

The girl was hit in the hand and the leg.  She was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Futrell was arrested and charged with felony negligent child abuse resulting in bodily injury.  He was also arrested on outstanding warrants charging him with attempted breaking and entering.

A neighbor called 911 after hearing the gunshot.  When asked what kind of gun it was, the caller responded "it was a loud gun, whatever kind of gun it was, it was super loud."

Sheriff unintentionally shoots his own deputy during standoff with gunman

Davie County, North Carolina Sheriff Andy Stokes told a news conference that a standoff situation was "a mad scramble for a few moments" and "I am the person who shot my own deputy last night."

The incident began when Deputy Chris Fleming attempted to serve an arrest warrant on 19-year-old Scott Tilley in connection with a home invasion. Tilley fled the scene and deputies found him at a mobile home about 90 minutes later. Tilley told police he was holding the juvenile and a man that lives there hostage. He ended up releasing the hostages in exchange for some cigarettes.

During the exchange a police dog went inside the trailer, followed by Fleming, Stokes and three other deputies. Tilley opened fire with a shotgun, striking the dog. Deputy Fleming was hit in the face by pellets that ricocheted inside the home.

Stokes said he then unintentionally shot Fleming in the right shoulder as he was trying to provide cover for the deputies who were leaving the mobile home.

Fleming was taken to the hospital where he is listed in stable condition. The dog died from his wounds.

Tilley ultimately surrendered to the deputies and was taken to the Davie County jail. Police seized a 12-gauge shotgun, a .308 caliber rifle and two handguns from the trailer.

4-year-old unintentionally shoots and kills himself, father charged with involuntary manslaughter

4-year-old Killian Perez, of Fayetteville, North Carolina found a loaded, unlocked handgun on the top of the refrigerator in his home. The boy took the handgun and was playing with it when he unintentionally discharged the weapon, shooting and killing himself.

Emergency responders were called to the home Saturday morning around 10:45 a.m. Killian was pronounced dead at the scene.

Jeffrey Perez, Killian's father, has been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to secure a firearm. Perez is a solider in the U.S. Army and is stationed at Fort Bragg. He was released on $5,000 unsecured bond.

Police officer fired after unintentional shooting

Marvin Willis has been on the Morehead City, North Carolina police force since 2011. In October he was taking part in a training exercise in the police station parking lot when he unintentionally discharged his handgun, shooting Officer Garret Hardin in the chest.

Hardin spent a week in the hospital and is still recovering from his injury. He has not yet been able to return to work.

In reviewing the case, the district attorney stated, "After reviewing the investigative findings of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, I have determined that no criminal charges will be filed in this matter. Former Officer Willis demonstrated a high level of negligence in failing to properly clear his handgun before entering the training exercise; however, his negligent conduct does not rise to the level of criminal intent required to prove that he committed a criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt.

“After Willis discharged his handgun in the training situation, he immediately assisted a medic in rendering assistance to Officer Hardin. The fact that former Officer Willis will not face criminal charges does not excuse his negligent conduct. His employment has been terminated with the Morehead City Police Department, and this matter will be reported to the Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission."

The Morehead City Police Department plans to thoroughly review its officer training program to make sure this type of incident never happens again.

Woman unintentionally shoots herself in the leg while walking up the stairs

33-year-old Brenda Carter, of Ramseur, North Carolina, decided to take her 9mm handgun outside her house and fire a round in the ground. She told police she "did not know why she fired the shot."

She was headed back inside, walking up the stairs, when she unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet hit her in the leg and caused her to fall off the steps.

Two kids inside the house ran out to help. One them picked up the gun and according to police "apparently didn't know any other way to unload it other than to fire three rounds into the ground."

Carter was taken to the hospital for treatment. She was also arrested and charged with discharging a firearm in city limits.

Woman unintentionally shoots herself in the hand inside Staples store

29-year-old Danielle Hayes, of Franklinton, North Carolina was shopping in a Staples store in Wake Forest. Her two-year-old son was with her.
According to police, Danielle had a concealed weapons permit and had a pistol in her purse. Her son reached inside her purse and when she went to take his hand out of her purse and grab the gun she unintentionally discharged the weapon.
Danielle was shot in the hand. Her son was not injured. An employee held pressure on Danielle's hand until medical help arrived and she was transported to the hospital.
Danielle has been charged with failing to secure a firearm from a minor.

2-year-old finds dad's gun, shoots himself in the mouth

A 2-year-old Randolph County, North Carolina boy is in stable condition after unintentionally shooting himself in the mouth. Police are calling it a miracle that the boy survived and was not more seriously injured.
The toddler was home with his parents, Jose Palencia and Agelica Rameriez, when he found his father's improperly locked .45-caliber handgun in his parents' bedroom. According to reports, the boy put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. The bullet broke a mandible bone in his jaw but luckily missed vital blood vessels and the spinal column.
The sheriff's office has indicated that charges will be filed against one or both of the parents. Storing an unsecured firearm in a place where minors can access it is a misdemeanor in North Carolina with punishment ranging from probation to jail time.

Father unintentionally shoots and kills 10-year-old son while cleaning gun

34-year-old Christopher Stanlane, of Fairmont, North Carolina, was wiping down the side of his shotgun in his home when he unintentionally discharged the gun.
According to police, Stanlane was on the couch and had the butt of the gun sitting on the floor. His son, 10-year-old Christopher, Jr., was sitting on the floor in front of him, watching television. When the shotgun discharged, the boy was shot in the head. He died at the scene.
Police added that the boy's 8-year-old sister was also in the room when the incident happened.

5 people shot at 3 different gun shows on Gun Appreciation Day

A 36-year-old man from Wilmington, North Carolina wanted to sell a shotgun at a gun show at the North Carolina State Fairground in Raleigh. He had the gun in a case and was unfastening the case at the security table when the gun unintentionally discharged.
Three people were hit by the bird shot. A retired sheriff's deputy suffered an injury to his hand. He was treated and released from the local hospital.
A 54-year-old woman from Benson was being treated for a wound to her right torso and a 50-year-old man from Durham was treated for an injured left hand.
Police have banned any private gun sales for the remainder of the two day gun show. Only licensed firearms dealers will be able to sell guns. Police have also banned any private gun sales on the fairgrounds for the indefinite future.
54-year-old Emory Cozee was leaving a gun show in Indianapolis, Indiana. The gun show does not allow loaded guns inside, so he had unloaded his .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun. He was reloading the gun while walking back to his car when he unintentionally discharged the weapon. Cozee was shot in the hand and taken to the local hospital for treatment.
A dealer at a gun show in Medina, Ohio was examining a semi-automatic handgun he had just bought when he unintentionally discharged the gun.
The bullet ricocheted off the floor and struck a man standing nearby in the leg and arm. The man was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Cleveland. His condition is unknown.
Police have not said if anyone will be charged in these incidents.
The shootings occurred on Gun Appreciation Day, a nationwide event organized by Political Media. Political Media is a political advertising agency dedicated to promoting right of center causes. They are a for profit corporation that is keeping a portion of Gun Appreciation Day contributions.

Mistaking him for a burglar, man unintentionally shoots and kills brother

65-year-old Al Dastmalchi, of Wilmington, North Carolina heard the sound of glass breaking at his front door. He grabbed a handgun and went to investigate. He told police that he saw "someone lunging at him with a spiked object in his hand" so he fired his gun.
After firing his gun Dastmalchi turned the front porch light on.
It was then he discovered that he had shot his 63-year-old brother, George.
George was shot in the chest and later died at the hospital.
According to police, they had been called to the home earlier in the evening for a domestic disturbance. George was taken to the hospital for "severe intoxication" but was later released.
Police noted that under North Carolina's Stand Your Ground/Shoot First law, people are allowed to use deadly force if they feel their lives are being threatened on their own property. There is nothing in the law that requires you to verify your target (turn on the front porch light) before shooting.
No charges have been filed.

Man unintentionally shoots and kills 15-year-old neighbor

55-year-old Robert Furey, of Wendell, North Carolina, called 911 and told the dispatcher he had shot a teen who had entered his home. Furey said he shot the boy with a high powered rifle as the teen walked into his home through the open front door. He said he didn't know who was coming inside when he fired.
The teen turned out to be his neighbor, 15-year-old Nick Exley.
"I've known him since he was a little child," Furley told the dispatcher. "Oh, I cannot believe this. I just killed my little buddy."
Furey later told police the gun went off when he was showing it to Nick. Furey has been charged with voluntary manslaughter and is due in court January 10th.

Man cleaning gun unintentionally shoots 2 neighbors

Ethan Chriman, of Fayetteville, North Carolina was cleaning his gun in his apartment when he unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The bullet went through the wall into the neighboring unit were it struck two people. It hit a man in the arm and a woman in the leg.
Chriman went to the apartment to make sure everyone was alright. He called 911 and the two were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Chriman has been charged with discharging a firearm inside city limits.
The incident comes less than a year from a similar shooting in nearby Chadbourn, NC. James Blackwell was cleaning his rifle when he unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet traveled across the street and struck three people. A 16-year-old girl died of her injuries.

Man trying to reload handgun unintentionally shoots and kills his friend

27-year-old Daniel Griffin, of Middlesex, North Carolina, was trying to reload a handgun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon. The bullet struck his friend, 21-year-old Taylor Samonia who was in a wheelchair nearby.
Taylor was struck in the left side and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Griffin has been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Gun dealer unintentionally shoots himself while setting up for gun show

40-year-old Eric Kinsinger, a gun dealer from Fort Mill, South Carolina, was setting up his table at the Dixie Gun & Knife Classic show in Charlotte, North Carolina. According to police, Kinsinger unintentionally shot himself with a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun.
"He was taking the gun out to display it and pulled the trigger and it went off," said the local police captain.
Kinsinger was shot in the hand and transported to the local hospital for treatment for the non life-threatening injury.

19-year-old playing with gun unintentionally shoots himself and his brother

Thomas and Brandon Everhart, ages 19 and 16, were at their grandmother's house in Lexington, North Carolina. The brothers were in the kitchen with their cousins when Thomas "playing with a handgun" unintentionally discharged the weapon. According to reports:

When he pulled the hammer back, it slid off his thumb, which caused it to hit the primer and send the shell off. The bullet hit him and then it ricocheted off the ground and hit his brother.

Thomas was hit in the leg and Brandon was struck in the calf area. Thomas, whose wound was more serious, was taken to the medical center in Winston-Salem. Brandon was treated at a local hospital and discharged.

Man says bullet from nearby shooting range came through bedroom wall

Glenn Finch of Chalybeate Springs, North Carolina is concerned after a bullet came through his bedroom wall, ricocheted off the opposite wall and landed on his bed. He says this is the third time this year a bullet has hit his house and he blames a nearby shooting range.
"I have guns, and I support the Second Amendment," Finch said. "But I've read it. Nowhere in there does it say you can shoot into somebody's house."
Operators of the shooting range, Drake Landing, declined to discuss the issue. The local sheriff is investigating the complaint.
Other neighbors are also concerned. "Some days it sounds like a war is breaking out over there," said Kent Jeffries. "My family has lived here for generations. We're not all Yankees who just moved here and are scared by noise. But there are people here who are literally afraid to be outside."
The range was opened as a clay target shooting range in 2006 as part of the state's agritourism program, having been ruled "a bona fide farm activity" by the state agriculture commissioner, and as such is exempt from local zoning ordinances. The state also approved the addition of a pistol and rifle range three years later saying "we can see no reason why a shooting range would be any different from a sporting clays course."
The new rifle range has a two story firing bay. Signs ask shooters to not fire in the direction of residential properties.
Ohh shoot.