A grandfather has been arrested after inadvertently shooting his 12-year-old grandson while trying to officiate a wedding ceremony.
As reported by PEOPLE, this disturbing event occurred at Hillside Events in Denton, Nebraska.
Michael Gardner, a 62-year-old resident of Odessa, Texas, was the official presiding over the wedding. However, after the nuptials experienced a delay due to the forgetfulness of someone leaving behind the rings, Gardner attempted to recapture the guests' attention.
The method he chose was firing a blank round from his Pietta 1860 snub nose revolver into the open air.
As Chief Deputy Ben Houchin highlighted during a Monday press conference, this attempt to refocus the attendees went tragically awry. "When he decided to cock back the hammer of this revolver, it slipped and it shot his grandson in the left shoulder, causing an injury," Houchin explained.
The youngster was sitting close to Gardner when the incident took place, both situated outdoors.
Unpacking the aftermath of this unintended shooting, Houchin explained: "What we believe is the glue is what injured the child."
The blank round contained a mix of black powder and glue. Thankfully, the young boy's injuries weren’t fatal and he was promptly taken to a local hospital. He was later transferred to another medical facility in Omaha for additional treatment.
Addressing the legal repercussions, Houchin revealed that Gardner, taking responsibility for his actions, turned himself in the subsequent Monday. He was taken into custody on the grounds of suspected felony child abuse, reflecting the gravity of the inflicted injuries.
Houchin clarified the potential charges, stating: "What the county attorney decides to charge him with is up to him," and emphasizing that the current circumstances align with the child abuse statute.
Commenting on the overall situation, Houchin remarked: "It’s just kind of neglectful to take a gun out that has blanks and fire it amongst people," reinforcing the inherent risks of firearms in public settings. He warned: "Playing with firearms, no matter what, [even] if they’re blanks, bad things can certainly happen."
Although he firmly believed that Gardner hadn’t intended any harm towards his grandson, Houchin underscored the sheer imprudence of the act.
We wish the young boy all the best on his recovery journey.
