Grandmother shoots at suspected intruders! (UPDATE with charges filed)

[Robb]

Last edited Wed Jul 3, 2013, 09:38 AM - Edit history (2)

11 year-old W.Va. boy shot to death in his bed as grandmother fired at intruders

JARVISVILLE, West Virginia — An 11-year-old West Virginia boy died of a gunshot wound to the chest after one of several bullets his grandmother had fired at suspected intruders went through his bedroom wall.

William Owens was lying in his bed just before midnight Sunday when a bullet from the .40-caliber handgun pierced the trailer's wall and struck him, Harrison County Sheriff Albert Marano said Monday.

(snip)

"She thought they were tampering with her property," Marano said, "and she fired multiple times to scare them off."

It's unclear whether there were any intruders. Marano said deputies found no one else at the scene when they arrived.

Read More: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/c70ea79e48264530892462afcf82f1d4/WV--Child-Shot

UPDATE:

Prosecutor to seek charge in Harrison boy's shooting

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Harrison County Prosecutor Joe Shaffer said Tuesday he will seek criminal indictment of a Jarvisville woman who shot her 11-year-old grandson to death while firing a weapon in the dark at suspected intruders.

(snip)

Shaffer said it was a difficult but necessary decision in a case that could have resulted in injuries to people other than the child. He said he will ask a grand jury to consider charges against 57-year-old Tina Owens when it meets in September.

"It's an important public issue, particularly concerning the responsibility that comes along with exercising your Second Amendment rights," Shaffer said. "I would like 16 Harrison County citizens to consider that."

(snip)

"I realize that the death of her grandson is something she's going to have to live with the rest of her life," he said, "but in any community, this is possible if people aren't responsible gun owners."

Read More: http://www.dailymail.com/policebrfs/201307020043

[Eric J in MN]

1. If there were people on her lawn, I'm still not sure "intruders" is that right word. NT

NT

[Robb]

3. They might have intruded at any moment.

Especially since they appear to have been ninjas.

[upaloopa]

2. stats are you are more likely to be killed with a gun

if there is a gun in the home and you're more likely to be killed with a gun by someone you know.

[onehandle]

4. Freedom! nt

[EdwardSmith74]

5. The "castle doctrine" strikes again.

[Robb]

6. Kick. nt

[Robb]

7. "The responsibility that comes along with exercising your Second Amendment rights."

Clearly the prosecutor hates America.

[Lizzie Poppet]

8. Indicting her was the right decision.

This sure seems like a case of criminal negligence.