Posted on 12/09/2007 7:11:31 PM PST by Coleus
A youth minister who owned a sawed-off shotgun that discharged and killed a teenager was charged with involuntary manslaughter and other counts.
Keith Owens, 21, of Duquesne, was showing the weapon to a group of young people meeting at his home on Nov. 20, according to police. A 14-year-old boy was handling the gun when it discharged, striking 15-year-old Chelsea McAllister, of Duquesne, in the face, killing her instantly, police said.
Owens, of Petra International Ministries in Penn Hills, was charged Thursday with involuntary manslaughter, possession of an offensive weapon, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors. The teenager was not charged. Owens turned himself in to police and was awaiting arraignment Thursday night. His father, Keith Owens Sr., said the charges were expected.
"He knew charges were coming but he didn't know the magnitude of the charges that were pending," he said. The elder Owens said he did not know why his son had the weapon or where he got it. Possession of a sawed-off shotgun is illegal.
The McAllister family released a statement expressing forgiveness for Owens. "Our feelings have not wavered by the recent charges of Pastor Keith Owens. Forgiveness is in order. However, even though we are a forgiving family we do understand that the law must be upheld and it is out of our hands," the statement said.
A YOUTH MINISTER showing students a sawed-off shotgun? Why that’s like handing a kid a loaded gun... Oh my.
Very sad, and tragic in the truest sense of the word. I don’t care how good of a minister in other ways he has been, this man should never be a minister again—so irresponsible is he with people’s, even kids, lives.
Prayers for the family. I loathe irresponsible and untrained gun owners, giving the good guys a bad name as they show off.
Dreadful. RIP.
The 14 year old should be charged too. Past the age of reason and all that.
The youth minister forgot the golden rule when dealing with kids. They know they can get away with anything as long as they are still kids.
I think this needs to be put in the Religion Forum where all the threads about Catholic priests molesting are put.
What do you think?
Let’s be fair here. Are Catholics treated one way and ministers another way?
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