Gun owner says weapon that killed child not securely locked

[jpak]

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/blog/2011/06/gun_owner_says_weapon_that_kil.html

The owner of a gun used by an 11-year-old boy to accidentally fatally shoot his 15-year-old playmate in South Baltimore on Saturday was kept inside a room, in a case, unloaded, but unlocked, according to the owner.

The owner, a retired correctional officer, told The Sun's Steve Kilar that it was the only one of his 22 weapons left unsecured. (Photo at left by The Sun's Gabe Dinsmoor). Police have not filed charges against an adult, and won't file any against the child. But a police spokesman said that the improper storage of firearms inside the apartment in Cherry Hill led to this tragedy.

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Richard L. Moore Jr. doesn’t know which of his 22 guns, locked in a bedroom and unloaded, killed 15-year-old Michael D. Brooks Jr. after a sleepover Saturday morning. His collection included black powder pistols, western revolvers and military-style firearms, he said Monday.

It was a handgun, is all police will say about the weapon that killed Michael. The shooter was an 11-year-old boy, they said, and Michael was struck at least once in the head in what appeared to be an accident inside an apartment in Cherry Hill.

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[HelenWheels]

1. Why wasn't the gun owner charged?

It was his responsibility to keep the gun in a safe place and he didn't.

[benEzra]

4. It's possible charges are coming, but the fact that he is a retired LEO could come into play. (n/t)

[rl6214]

2. And it's google time

[gejohnston]

3. In other news,

CARNATION -- A man in his 70s shot an intruder at inside his home here early Wednesday morning.
The intruder was hit twice and flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. His injuries were described as non-life threatening.
King County Sheriff spokesman John Urquhart said the homeowner heard someone outside his home just before 6 a.m., and when he opened a door to confront him the man burst inside the house.
Urquhart said the intruder hit the homeowner on the head, and the older man went into another room, got a pistol and shot the intruder.


Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Man-in-70s-shoots-intruder-at-Carnation-home-883081.php#ixzz1QWYIaZsA



http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Man-in-70s-shoots-intruder-at-Carnation-home-883081.php?source=mypi

[ileus]

5. Someone didn't read enough at the guns kill people forum...

[jpak]

6. Boy, 15, dead after gun accident

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/blog/2011/06/boy_15_dead_after_gun_accident.html

Baltimore police have identified the teenage victim of a fatal shooting which occurred after a sleepover in Cherry Hill Saturday morning.

Michael Brooks, 15, was shot and killed by an unidentified 11-year-old who was apparently playing with a gun, police said. Police could not say how many times Brooks was shot or who owned the gun. The gun was secured in the house, but the children had found a key or passcode to unlock it, said police spokesman Kevin Brown. As of Sunday morning, no charges have been filed against the shooter or any adults who may have been present, Brown said.

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[ileus]

7. tragic....my 6yo son keeps asking for my combo and passcode.

problem is my big safe also has a lock on the dial. and my inside safe requires a key and passcode...

[gejohnston]

8. what would the charges be?

Adult secured gun, eleven is too young to put on trial as an adult for what looks like manslaughter.

that said...In other news:

BELGRADE — A Minnesota man was killed early Monday morning in rural Nance County, west of Belgrade, according to Nance County Attorney/Coroner Rodney M. Wetovick.
Nance County Sheriff’s Deputies and Fullerton and Belgrade Rescue squads responded to 17802 N. 185th St., the home of the caller, Robert Dodds, 30, of rural Belgrade.
The Nebraska State Patrol Investigation Team also responded.
Joseph William Cameron, age 30 of Stacy, Minn., born Sept. 30, 1980, was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:15 a.m. by Wetovick.
According to a press release:
Beth Metz, 29, of Belgrade, and the deceased allegedly left the New Frontier bar in Belgrade and accompanied Dodds to check cattle at a nearby farm and then went to Dodds’ residence.
An apparent altercation took place between Dodds and Cameron. Dodds locked Metz and Cameron out of his home. Cameron gained entry into the home by kicking in the door. Cameron’s body was found inside the residence.
A knife was found on the floor next to Cameron’s body and a sheath for the knife was on Cameron’s belt.
A single 7mm slug hit Cameron in the mid-left torso area beneath the ribs.
An autopsy is scheduled in Omaha at 8 a.m. today.
Although the matter remains under investigation, the incident initially appears to be one of self-defense, and therefore no arrests have been made.

Read more: http://columbustelegram.com/news/local/article_4e0742ac-3914-11e0-8c90-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1QcoV7hWA

[Katya Mullethov]

10. A single 7 mm slug ?

It sounds so petite when you put it that way .

[krispos42]

12. It's commonly a deer-hunting round

I own one, actually, 7x57mm. If the intruder was shot by one of those, or one of the more powerful (and common) 7mms... ouch.

[RamboLiberal]

9. jpak now you're duping yourself????

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=118x432043

[rl6214]

11. Hahahahahahaha

Must not have been able to find enough on google today.

Unrec for, well for being a jpak post.

[krispos42]

13. Yanno, I thought this story sounded familiar

:rofl: