Army Veteran Paralyzed in Unintentional Shooting Finally Gets To Go Home

24-year-old Joshua Keller is going home.  Josh was wounded in an unintentional shooting last year.  At the time, he was in the Army, stationed in Olympia, Washington.  Josh and his roommate, Thomas Popek, were preparing to go to a shooting range.  Popek was fooling around with a .45 caliber handgun while he cleaned the weapon.  Thinking the gun wasn't loaded, Popek pointed it at Josh and pulled the trigger.

The bullet hit Josh in the neck and lodged in his spine, paralyzing him. "I'm a C-4 quadriplegic," Josh said. "I have loss of function in my legs and arms. From the chest down, I can't feel."

Josh has spent the last year in a Veterans hospital in Massachusetts.  But now, thanks to a special adaptive housing grant, he will return to his home in Hudson, New Hampshire. A new addition to his family home has been built for Josh and his caregiver.

Popek pleaded guilt to aggravated assault with a loaded firearm and was sentenced to three years and one month confinement and a bad-conduct discharge from the Army.

Mother of 13-year-old killed in unintentional shooting wants state law changed

13-year-old Eddie Holmes, of Puyallup, Washington, was at a friend's home. There were five boys in the house when one of them pulled out his stepfather's loaded, unlocked shotgun from behind a bedroom headboard.  Another boy took the gun and pumped the shotgun and unintentionally fired the weapon.

Eddie was shot directly in the chest, killing him.

Police arrested the 13-year-old boy who fired the gun but Eddie's mother says the shotgun owner should have made sure the gun couldn't fall into a child's hand.

"Because our state has yet to agree on locking and securing guns, I'm left with the unbearable task of planning the funeral of my 13-year-old-son," she said.

Washington is one of the 22 states that have no laws regulating child access prevention to firearms. Child access prevention laws impose criminal liability on adults who give children unsupervised access to firearms.  Research has found that 1.7 million children live in homes with loaded, unlocked weapons.

Man mistakes pregnant wife for intruder, shoots her

25-year-old Cory Lindblom, of Yakima, Washington, apparently mistook his wife, 27-year-old McKaylee Higgs, for an intruder and shot her early Friday morning in the bedroom of their duplex.
McKaylee, who is eight weeks pregnant, was shot once. Initial reports indicated a neck wound. She is in the hospital in critical condition.
Police have not released details of the incident, but have said multiple shots were fired and a handgun was seized. Lindblom has been cooperative with the investigation and is not in custody.
The chief of detectives said it will be up the county prosecutor's office to determine if any charges will be filed. He said they have eliminated criminal intent and "then you're left with noncriminal intent such as recklessness or negligence."

After unintentionally shooting and killing friend, teen panics and tries to dismember body

19-year-old Jeremy McVicker and 19-year-old Dylan Heinen, of Spokane, Washington, were hanging out with friends at McVicker's house. According to another friend who was there, McVicker pulled out a 9mm handgun and began playing with it.
"He was loading, unloading and racking the slide on the gun repeatedly," the friend told police. Heinen said something like "why don't you just pull the trigger?" so McVicker pointed the gun at Heinen and thinking the gun was unloaded, pulled the trigger. Heinen was shot in the head and died instantly.
After the shooting, McVicker panicked. He got a hatchet and tried to dismember Heinen's body. According to the autopsy, McVicker struck Heinen's body 40 times in the back of the head and neck attempting to decapitate him.
Court records note, "after striking Heinen repeatedly with the hatchet, McVicker said he became sickened and stopped."
"It's such a foreign concept to us," said a Spokane police officer. "Not only to accidentally shoot your friend, but then go through the exercise of dismembering them with a hatchet. It's very tragic."
McVicker has been charged with first-degree manslaughter. His bail has been set at $1,000,000. Police said alcohol was involved in the incident.

Stray bullet from target shooting ignites $30,000 worth of fireworks

Parris Shepard, owner of Belfair Truck & Auto Wrecking in Belfair, Washington was target shooting with his daughter, trying out a new rifle, around 1 a.m. on Monday when a stray bullet set off a cargo container of fireworks stored on the property.
According to firefighters several mortars ignited which set off multiple explosions.
"You wouldn't believe the crater in the earth here from the magazine of fireworks. It woke my wife up - she thought we were having an earthquake," said a county fire investigator.
The fire chief noted that the container holding the fireworks "blew right off its foundation - in fact it rolled twice."
Fireworks hit junk cars sparking spot fires throughout the property, and a mountain of old tires was set ablaze. A heavy-duty excavator was needed to clear debris and tires so firefighters could get to the flames, which took crews five hours to douse.
The fireworks were intended for Fourth of July shows in Poulsbo and Bainbridge. Organizers hope to be able to replace most of the fireworks in time for the celebrations next week.
Investigators say the parties involved lacked the necessary county permit to store the fireworks at the Truck & Auto Wrecking company. The owner of the commercial fireworks obtained the federal permit to import the fireworks and the state permit to store the fireworks but the county permit was missing. According to the county fire inspector the missing local permit determines placement of the explosives on the property. "We issue a permit for the amount of fireworks, the type of container, the setbacks and signage. The type of fireworks dictates the type of container."
Depending on the results of the investigation the county might seek action against either the property owner or the owner of the fireworks.

Unintentional shooting at gun show sends man to hospital

53-year-old Pete Tennison, of Skamania County, Washington, unintentionally shot himself in the upper thigh at a gun show at the American Legion Hall on Saturday. Reports do not indicate if the .45-caliber handgun involved in the shooting belonged to Tennison or if he was looking to purchase the gun at the gun show.
He was taken to the hospital where he is listed in stable condition. Tennison is an employee of the Skamnia County Sheriff's Office. He supervises inmate work crews from the county jail. He does not carry a firearm as part of his work.

Man running errands with his parents and young children killed by stray bullet

43-year-old Justin Ferrari, of Madrona, Washington, was looking forward to a weekend away with his wife. Justin's parents had flown in to baby sit their grandchildren, ages 5 and 7, so Justin and his wife Maggie could be on their own. Thursday evening Justin was running some final errands in Seattle. He was driving his van through the Central Area. Justin's father was sitting next to him in the front seat. His mother and two children were in the back.
While the van was stopped at an intersection, two young men were outside, arguing on the street. One of the men pulled a gun and started shooting. A stray bullet hit Justin in the head. Justin died at the scene, in his father's arms.
This is the second Seattle resident to be killed in a random shooting in the past month. In April, Nicole Westbook, 21, was walking in Pioneer Square when she was killed by gunshots from a moving car.
No arrest has been made in either killing.
Saturday afternoon a man was walking near the Folklife Festival in Seattle when he was hit by a stray bullet. Ryan Burr was waiting at a crosswalk with two men started fighting nearby. One of them pulled out a gun and opened fire. A bullet passed through Ryan's calf. He was taken to the hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. Police have arrested a suspect in the case.

Man unintentionally shot in butt when neighbor takes law into his own hands

Robert Rider, of SeaTac, Washington was concerned when he heard a voice in the house next door that was supposed to be empty. He found a man in his 20s who was trespassing. According to an interview with Rider, "Something had to be done, I wanted him gone. I tried to get him to go and he wouldn't go."
So Rider went back to his home and instead of calling the police he got his shotgun and returned to the house next door. He didn't know where the young man was so he decided to cock his gun.
"He got past me and I turned and I was following him out of the house and tripped over my own shoe and the shotgun went off," said Rider. "He had blood stains on his pants and I immediately felt bad."
The injured man was taken to the hospital where he is being treated for a birdshot wound to the buttocks. His injuries are not life-threatening.
"I feel real bad about it. I've never shot anyone before in my life. I wished I could take it back. I don't like the idea that I shot somebody," said Rider.
Police said that such actions by neighbors are discouraged. "It's always better to pick up the phone and call us," said the sheriff. "It could have been a much different scenario if the suspect was armed."
Rider was booked for investigation of assault but has yet to be charged with a crime. The injured man could be charged with trespassing.

Woman unintentionally shoots herself during handgun class

A 59-year-old Onalaska, Washington woman unintentionally shot herself in the leg during a firearm class at the Firearms Academy of Seattle. The woman was practicing drawing her gun from a concealed holster. When she went to put the 9 mm handgun back in the holster she unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The class offered was titled Defensive Handgun and included instruction on "the gun handling mechanic of draw stroke." It should be noted that "women who are pregnant or nursing may not participate in live-fire training, due to risks from lead exposure and loud noise."

No charges to be filed against police officer whose daughter shot herself with his service weapon

Last month, the 10-year-old daughter of a Spokane, Washington police officer unintentionally shot herself with her father's service weapon. Prosecutors have announced that they will not file charges against the officer.
According to reports: It was Easter Sunday and officer Barry O'Connell cleaned his gun and then left it, loaded and unlocked, on the dresser in his bedroom. After dinner, his 10-year-old daughter went upstairs with her friend. They went into the bedroom so they could look out the window to try and see where the Easter eggs were hidden. The girl began to play with the gun and unintentionally discharged the gun, shooting herself in the leg. The girl was hospitalized and released a few days later.
O'Connell told prosecutors that the children "had been taught about gun safety and the dangers of guns" and that the parents' bedroom was off limits. That's why prosecutors concluded, "By all study and legal review, this is an accidental shooting. It may rise to the level of negligence, but does not constitute chargeable criminal conduct under these facts."
By teaching children about the dangers of guns and then leaving a loaded, unlocked gun on top of a dresser you are putting the responsibility for gun safety on children instead of adults, where it belongs.

17-year-old unintentionally shoots and kills his mother

A 17-year-old Selah, Washington youth was examining a handgun he had received as a present when he unintentionally discharged the weapon. The bullet went though a wall and hit his mother, 33-year-old Vonda Willis-Jean, in the head. She was taken to the local hospital but died soon after.
"It was a real sad deal," said the local chief of detectives. "He had just received a handgun as a gift and was manipulating it somehow when it discharged."
The sheriff's office has called the incident an accident and no charges have been filed.

Boyfriend puts loaded gun under seat when he gets out of car. 3-year-old finds gun, tragedy follows

A Tacoma, Washington woman and her boyfriend stopped for gas late Tuesday night. While she went inside the convenience store he got out to pump gas. Before getting out of the car he put his loaded, unlocked handgun under the seat of the car. Also inside the car were the woman's two children, ages 3 and 1.
While alone in the car, the 3-year-old boy got out of his car seat, took the gun from under the seat and unintentionally shot himself in the head. The toddler was declared dead at the hospital.
The boyfriend has a concealed weapons permit but reports did not indicate what he feared, why he felt the need to carry a loaded, hidden gun in public, or why he would place an unlocked, loaded gun under a seat and then get out of the car.
Police are investigating but are unclear if charges will be filed. Washington does not have a child access prevention law that would hold an adult responsible if a child gains access to a firearm.
The shooting comes just days after a similar tragedy where a Marysville, Washington boy found an unlocked, loaded gun in the glove compartment of a van and unintentionally shot and killed his 7-year-old sister.

7-year-old police officer's daugher unintentionally shot and killed by her brother

The 7-year-old daughter of a Marysville, Washington police officer was in a van with her brother when they found a loaded, unlocked handgun in the glove compartment. The children took out the gun and were handling it when the boy unintentionally discharged the gun, striking the girl.
The girl was taken to a local hospital and then transferred to a larger facility in Seattle but died of her injuries the next day.
It is not known if the gun was the father's service weapon or a personal gun. The age of the brother has not been released.

Man pulls trigger to prove gun is empty, gun fires and kills woman standing on other side of wall

21-year-old Cornelius DeJong of Redmond, Washington was at a party at a friend's house. He brought his .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun with him to the gathering. DeJong has a concealed weapons permit for the gun. According to police documents, several people handled the gun over the course of the evening and it eventually ended up placed in a bedroom under a mattress.
Around 3 o'clock in the morning DeJong went to get the gun when another person in the room "objected to the handgun being handled while the subjects were under the influence of intoxicating liquor." DeJong then removed the magazine from the gun and pulled back on the slide. To show the gun was empty he pointed the gun at the wall and pulled the trigger.
Unfortunately, there was bullet in the chamber and the gun fired. The bullet went through the wall and struck 20-year-old Claire Thompson who was standing on the other side of the wall. Claire was struck in the neck. She was rushed to the hospital but died of her injuries later that morning.
DeJong pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree manslaughter. According to a police spokesperson, "We do believe that it was due to reckless handing of the gun that caused it to go off. We do not believe it was premeditated."
Documents indicate that DeJong had been drinking before the incident.

9-year-old said he needed gun for protection, unintentionally shoots classmate

8-year-old Amina Bowman, of Bremerton, Washington, was shot in the abdomen when a handgun her one of her classmates had brought to school unintentionally discharged. The 9-year-old, third grade boy, who was described as a troubled child who altered the dynamics of an otherwise peaceful classroom, hid the handgun in his backpack. He told classmates that he was going to run away and he needed the gun to protect himself.
The gun discharged from inside the backpack and struck Amina. Police found the .45-caliber Heckler and Koch semi-automatic handgun inside the backpack. The safety was off and the gun was cocked with a round in the chamber.
Amina was taken to the hospital where she underwent surgery. She is in critical condition but is expected to survive.
The boy has been charged with third-degree assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm on school facilities. Police think he likely got the gun while visiting his mother the previous weekend. Washington has no child access prevention laws. There are no laws that require trigger locks for guns or laws that penalize gun owners should a child get hold of a gun and shoot someone. At the moment, no charges are pending against the mother.
Ohh shoot.

Grandfather in Washington shoots 11-year-old grandson, grandfather in Ohio shoots 2-year-old granddaughter

A Custer, Washington man was target shooting with his 11-year-old grandson in his backyard when the .22-caliber handgun they were using jammed. As the grandfather went to clear the jam the handgun fired and the boy was hit in the abdomen. The boy was taken to the hospital with nonlife threatening injuries.
69-year-old Albert Ibold, of West Chester, Ohio has been charged with child endangerment and handling weapons while intoxicated after he unintentionally shot his 2-year-old granddaughter in the abdomen. The girl was conscious when she was transported to the hospital but no other information has been released. The child endangerment charge is a felony of the third degree but the charge of handling weapons while intoxicated is only a first degree misdemeanor.
Ohh shoot.

Man unintentionally fires his gun inside local tattoo parlor

A client at a tattoo parlor in Bellingham, Washington unintentionally fired his gun inside the Black Rose Tattoo Parlor Wednesday. The tattoo artist noticed the man had a gun in a holster on his hip and asked the man to remove the ammunition magazine because the shop had a rule against loaded guns. The man complied. When he was finished getting the tattoo he went to put the magazine back in the handgun and unintentionally fired the gun. The bullet hit the floor and two walls, causing about $500 in damage.
When the owner told the man he was calling the police, the man ran out the back door.
Ohh shoot.

Neighbor shot by stray bullet when fight over dominoes game turns violent

Two 23-year-old men were playing dominoes in an Auburn, Washington apartment when an argument over the game turned violent and shots were fired. One of the men suffered a gunshot wound to his cheek. The injury was not life threatening.
A 48-year-old woman who lives next door was also injured when a bullet came through her wall from the duplex next door. She was shot in the upper shoulder and taken to the local hospital. Her injured was not left threatening.
Police are still searching for a man in connection with the shootings.
Ohh shoot.

4-year-old shoots mother after expressing curiosity about guns

A 23-year-old mother from Gig Harbor, Washington was unintentionally shot in the back by her 4-year-old son. The mother was talking on the phone with her back to her son when she was shot. She was shot on her left side with a 12-gauge shotgun.
The boy found the unloaded shotgun on the bed. "All the kid did was drop the shell in the chamber, touch the bolt release and pull the trigger," police said. "He had probably seen his dad do it a hundred times."
Before the incident the boy's father gave the boy a shotgun cartridge so he could learn to handle it. According to police, "The boy had expressed curiosity about firearms and his father provided him with one shotgun ammunition round."
Ohh shoot.

Man sitting in his backyard hit by stray bullet

A man sitting in his backyard in Sequim, Washington was injured when a bullet came at a steep downward angle and shot him in his nose, entering the top right of his nose and traveling down to the bottom left side. He was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released.
The sheriff believes the bullet was fired by a woman and two men shooting clay pigeons in a field about half a mile from where the man was shot.
"It appears they didn't know (someone had been shot)," said the sheriff, "It is so important that people check their backstop when shooting and not try and shoot over it. Bullets will go amazingly far."
Ohh shoot.