Tragic accidental shooting of two year-old

[Beren]

http://post-gazette.com/pg/05194/537180.stm

Dad, shooting at raccoon, kills girl; charges unlikely

Wednesday, July 13, 2005
By Jonathan D. Silver, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Fayette County District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon has decided not to press charges against a Brownsville man who shot and killed his 2-year-old daughter last night in what appears to be a terrible accident.

Vernon said her decision could change if blood tests on Fred Daugherty reveal the presence of alcohol or drugs, but she added she had no reason to expect such a finding.

Daugherty reportedly went to shoot a raccoon rummaging in the garbage of his Hummel Street home following local reports of a possibly rabid animal in the neighborhood.

Vernon said his daughter, Shanna, suddenly darted in front of him and was hit.

"Mr. Daugherty took a rifle to shoot the raccoon. His young daughter then stepped in front of the gun from behind, ran in front of it, similar to darting in front of a car," Vernon said.

A neighbor provided an account consistent with Daugherty's, and physical evidence found at the scene supported the story, Vernon said.

Shanna was taken to Children's Hospital, where she died at 10:39 p.m. yesterday.

The Allegheny County coroner's office, which issued the death certificate, said the girl died from a gunshot wound of the head.

 

[Henry Bowman]

How heartbreaking!! I hope the grief and guilt doesn't kill him. It might me.

 

[TheGoodLife]

how tragic

I really feel for the father and other family members.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

My worst nightmare...

I feel for the father.

 

[pax]

That's a punch in the guts.

pax

 

[hso]

That would kill me if it happened to me.

 

[chris in va]

The grief that father feels right now is more punishment than any corrections facility could offer. Very sad.

 

[Too Many Choices!?]

Nice no, but true, yes!

Note to self: While shooting at possibly rabid animals with firearms, make sure to put 2year old inside with wife while firearm is being used. Kids and possibly rabid animals are very unpredictable :banghead: ! This so could have and should have, IMHO, been perevented. I don't think the guy should be charged for not being the smartest father in the world ,but if he doesn't get some help in dealing with this, the father may yet fall prey to Darwinism as his daughter fell prey to Murphy !

 

[Spiphel Rike]

That must suck, if the guilt doesn't kill him, his wife will and if his wife doesn't he might kill himself. I remember another story about a kid hiding behind a target, sad stuff and just more ammo for the antis.