TOOELE BOY, 11, ACCIDENTALLY SHOT TO DEATH DURING VISIT TO COLORADO

An 11-year-old Tooele, Utah, boy, on vacation with his family, was killed in an accidental shooting Wednesday in this southwestern Colorado community.

The youth was identified by Montrose County Deputy Sheriff Bill Chadd as Robert Sanford Ray, son of Bill and Betty Ray.Chadd said the boy died instantly when a .22-caliber rifle, held by another 11-year-old boy, accidentally discharged, striking the victim in the chest.

The accident occurred in an upstairs bedroom in the home of the Monty Naslund family, friends of the Rays, who formerly lived in Nucla. The community is located about 45 miles east of La Sal, San Juan County, Utah.

Chadd said a Naslund youth picked up the gun, which was lying on a stand next to a bed, and turned it upside down to show the Ray youth where an ammunition clip was inserted. The gun discharged when the gun was turned to an upright position. The victim was standing about 6 to 7 feet away, the deputy said.

The sheriff's office was notified about 8:28 a.m., and a Naturita, Colo., physician, who also is the county coroner, were summoned to the scene.