From Deseret News archives:

9-year-old boy shot in face by child playing with rifle

Published: Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006 10:23 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
PLAIN CITY, Weber County — A 9-year-old boy was shot in the face with a gun held by another child in Plain City Thursday.

The boys were playing with a rifle that accidentally went off, Weber County Sheriff's Capt. Klint Anderson said. He said the boy was shot near the mouth and was transported in serious condition to the hospital.

Several children — three siblings and a friend — were home alone near 1500 North and 4200 West, playing together when they went to a closet where some guns were being stored.

"The kids knew there was a BB gun in the closet, and they took them out to play with them," Anderson said.

Among the other guns was a .22-caliber rifle. He said it is unknown whether the children loaded the gun or if it was already loaded in the closet. He said it was possible the father loaded it in preparation for a hunting outing he was planning for today.

An 11-year-old, thinking the gun wasn't loaded, aimed it at the boy and fired, shooting the boy in the face.

Anderson said the boy's injuries were not expected to be life-threatening.

"He was conscious enough to run across the street to get help," he said.

Story continues below
The other children were still at the home when police arrived and were helping to piece together the situation. The boy was taken to Ogden Regional Medical Center and then transferred to Primary Children's Medical Center where he remained in serious but stable condition.

"He's extremely lucky," Anderson said. "It could've been a lot worse."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 200,000 people per year in the United States are injured by accidental gunshots.

A 2004 report from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control states that firearms injury is the second-leading cause of non-natural death in childhood and adolescence, and most are hit with weapons found in the home.


E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Mark Diorio, Deseret Morning News

Rescue crews respond to a house in Plain City where a boy was accidentally shot by an acquaintance with a .22 caliber rifle. Several children were home alone at the time.

previousnext

Latest comments

It's soccer. Why does everyone have to make everything a religion issue?

So got what is deserved. DWill was not ready. No chance .

Wyoming writer amazed by BYU

This man has covered 42 years of WYOMING football and this byu team is the...

U. wants home-court edge

Ah, poor utes. Just like the team from provo made their own version of the...

5A teams best of decade

2003 HUNTER WOLVERINES, 14-0, dominated all opponents. Notable Players: ...

Utility worker killed in Roosevelt

Dear Cindy and family, I send my thoughts and prayers to be with you at the...

Did you see the monkey? He had holes cut into his head, titanium pins screwed...

byu out-recruiting utah easily the last several years...

5A teams best of decade

Carbon High Dinos would beat any 5A team you throw at them!!!

Mike, you are absolutely correct, Salt Lake's dispatch center as well as the...

Advertisements
Advertisement