Beren
Moderator Emeritus
The local press is already sharpening their knives on this story. State Senator, Republican, supporter of the right to keep and bear arms, firearms that may have been stored in a "reckless" manner, and a dead 14 year-old boy.
To be honest, though, State Sen. Regola may well be culpable in this tragedy. If he was out of town as reported, there was no reason for him not to secure his firearms. It's not yet known whether or how they were secured.
Story:
Investigation continues in boy's death with lawmaker's gun
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
By Jim McKinnon, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
GREENSBURG -- It could take weeks to determine how and why a Westmoreland County teen was killed with a pistol that belonged to his neighbor, state Sen. Bob Regola of Hempfield.
State police and District Attorney John Peck said today there still are many questions surrounding the death of Louis Farrell, 14, late last Friday or early Saturday.
While the senator and his wife were in Harrisburg, Louis had been left in charge of caring for their pet dog, state police Capt. Harvey Cole said.
Some time during the night Friday, Louis obtained a 9mm pistol from the Regolas' Glenmeade Road residence, and went into the wooded property of St. Emma Monastery that abuts the Regolas' and the Farrells' next to them.
His parents noticed around 8:30 Saturday morning that the boy had not slept in his bed. His father found him in the woods, about 100 yards from the family home.
The pistol was found nearby. He was pronounced dead at the scene of a gun shot wound of the head at 9:35 a.m. Saturday, Chief Deputy Coroner Paul Cyak said.
State police declined to detail what else was found at the scene, pending further investigation.
It is believed that Louis was fatally shot where he was found, Capt. Cole said.
While police investigate the manner of death -- whether the boy died of an accident, homicide or suicide -- the district attorney will determine whether any charges should be filed against anyone, Mr. Peck said.
Evidence gathered at the scene still is being analyzed, Capt. Cole said. Investigators will work to determine how close the gun was to the boy when he was shot in the head, and whether Louis' and or other people's fingerprints are on the weapon, among other things, he said.
Some of the evidence had been disturbed because Louis' father made attempts to revive him before police arrived, Capt. Cole said.
No one reported having heard any gun shots Friday night or Saturday morning.
There was no note, and police have found no reason for any of the boy's acquaintances to kill him, police said.
A vagrant, about whom residents along Glenmeade Road had complained for squatting on property in the woods, had been discounted early in the investigation as a person of interest. His whereabouts at the time of the death have been accounted for, said Trooper John Zalich, the lead investigator on the case.
At least one other handgun was found in the Regola house, police said. Officers declined to comment on how secure the weapons had been kept.
Mr. Peck said there is not clear evidence that Sen. Regola, a first-term Republican who supports the constitutional right to bear arms, was reckless in the way he stored his guns.
The senator has a permit to carry a handgun.