7-Year-Old Killed By Stray Bullet In Austin

[ccoker]

I have been following the story
so tragic and so very sad...

I am a parent and stories about children hit me hard
I hate watching the news...

[Wildscar]

Man how stupid does one have to be... Specially after looking at the map Hi-power's provided. Tragic isn't even a strong enough word for this event.

And the whole 20 to 25 people thing. Correct me If I wrong but isn't there some kind of law stating that defines body to square footage ratio.

[jimlongley]

I don't understand why the guy would be shooting in that direction to begin with, or at all, with all the neighboring houses around there.

Tragic and stupid.

Is it possible that this was a ricochet? My mother shot herself in the chest with a.22 when we were shooting in the basement many years ago, using an oak log as a backstop is not a good idea.

I have seen lots of bouce back off of steel and ranges where lots of projectiles were buried in the backstop, maybe our "hero" hit his backstop right on another bullet and it bounced back across the road. Unlikely to be sure but, without aiming, hitting a kid bouncing on a trampoline at that range with a .22 is a stretch too.

This may be just an unfortunate juxtaposition of events.

OTOH, I think that not only should they throw the book at him more than once, but they should keep on doing so, but one can't legislate against stupidity.

[Wildscar]

Is it possible that this was a ricochet?

I'll give you that. Even if it was a ricochet, he shouldn't have been shooting around a community with other houses so close.

OTOH, I think that not only should they throw the book at him more than once, but they should keep on doing so, but one can't legislate against stupidity.

I think something larger than a book needs to be used.

[KinnyLee]

Such tragedy indeed.

I hope this guys gets a whole set of encylopedia thrown at him!

[phddan]

Heard this news report while on the way to bury a horse yesterday morning.
I just can't imagine shooting in a nieghborhood like that. I got 31 acres with a 1200 acre ranch behind me and wouldn't think of plinking anywhere except at my backstops.
Dumb, just plain dumb.

Dan

[hi-power]

Is it possible that this was a ricochet?

Sure, but like you said, unlikely.

Was he shooting almost straight up in the air? I don't think so...I believe I read somewhere that any slant of less than 85 degrees would not allow the projectile to reach the speed needed to penetrate flesh.

That doesn't leave much else except aiming directly at the kids. Whether it was intentional or not is probably going to have to be decided by a jury.

I'm sick about this, but I hope it gets a lot of attention so that the next genius that decides to shoot around others will remember it.

Edited to add: See new photo on previous page.

[seamusTX]

The shooter pled guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to eight years:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,376391,00.html

- Jim