Teenager Shot in Head at Georgia Gun Show; Police Say Shooting Was Accidental

AP ^ | 7-14-02 | Anon

[Pharmboy]

NORCROSS, Ga. (AP) - A 13-year-old boy attending a gun show with his father was shot in the head and critically wounded Sunday, police said. It was unclear how the shooting happened or whose gun, a .38 caliber revolver, was involved.

"All we know for sure is it was an accidental discharge of a handgun," Gwinnett County police spokesman Ray Dunlap said.

Stephen King was taken to Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Atlanta, where he underwent surgery and was listed in very critical condition.

Police said he and his father, Anthony Grant, are from Montgomery, Ala., and were attending the Eastman Gun Show at the North Atlanta Trade Center.

Officials said loaded guns are not allowed at gun shows, except for those carried by police officers or security guards.

Dunlap said police were considering charges, but would specify what charges or against whom.

[Pharmboy]

How awful...let's practice gun safety at all times, but especially when the kids arer around.

Get ready for a media firestorm folks.

[skr]

Always treat a gun as it's loaded. Apparently this one was. Strangely vague as to who had the gun, if only police and security carry ones that are loaded.

[Pharmboy]

[ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 7/15/02 ]

Alabama boy, 13, accidentally shot in head at Norcross gun show
It's unclear who fired round; security at show called 'meticulous'

By RICK BADIE and RICHARD WHITT
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writers


Andy Kjellgren / AJC
Gun show patrons line up to return to the center following Sunday's shooting.
A fun weekend for a Alabama father and son ended in tragedy Sunday when the 13-year-old was accidentally shot in the face at a gun show in Norcross.

A single bullet from a handgun, fired at point-blank range, struck Steven Bray King in his right eye and lodged in his brain. Late Sunday, Steven was listed in critical condition after surgery at Scottish Rite Children's Hospital of Atlanta.

Steven, a rising freshman at Prattville High School in Prattville near Montgomery, Ala. was attending the gun show with his father, Anthony Grant, 38, of Montgomery.

"We were looking at holsters," Grant said in an interview at the hospital. "I was reaching to get money out of my pocket when the shot went off." Steven was standing on his left side facing the counter. His girlfriend Kathi McQueen was standing to his right side.

The shot, which spewed gunpowder residue onto the left side of Grant's tee-shirt, barely missed his head and came from directly behind the counter, Grant said. He said he did not see who fired the gun.

"There were all kinds of people behind the counter," said Grant. I was looking down so I didn't see anything."

Steven immediately fell and did not respond to treatment given almost immediately by a physician and an emergency medical technician who happened to be attending the show, Grant said.

McQueen, also of Montgomery, confirmed Grant's version of what happened.

"It appears to be an accidental shooting," said Gwinnett Police Spokesman Ray Dunlap, who did not expect charges to be filed. "At this point, we don't know if it was a vendor's gun, but it was not a gun being exhibited on a table. It was an unfortunate discharge."

After the shooting, paramedics were summoned to treat a vendor at the scene who experienced chest pains, but did not have to be hospitalized, Dunlap said.

The incident took place around 12:15 p.m., two hours into the Eastman Gun Show, which drew thousands Saturday and Sunday to the North Atlanta Trade Center, off Indian Trial Road.

Grant said he and Steven, who lives with his mother, came to Atlanta for a weekend outing. They went to Whitewater Park on Saturday and he and Steven had looked forward to attending the gun show, Grant said.

"He's a super kid," said Grant. "A smart kid. He was an A-B student. He won a (school) science awrd last year."

Grant said his son was a "typical teenager" and likes guns and knives.

At Eastman gun shows, security workers at the front door check all firearms brought into the show. They attach plastic safety ties to the triggers or firing mechanisms of all guns, including those on exhibit, so they can't be fired. Vendors, though, are allowed to carry loaded handguns for protection. They cannot place the loaded guns on the table, or let customers handle them, authorities and observers said Sunday.

Allowing vendors to carry loaded weapons is "where the potential danger is," said Ron Pafford, a Suwanee resident who attended the gun show Sunday.

"I really can't imagine how somebody else could get in there with a loaded clip," said Pafford, who grew up duck hunting with his father. "When you walk through the door, you have two officers who put a zip-tie on any gun, pistol or shotgun." No official headcount was available on attendance at the gunshow, which closed at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Eastman Gun Shows started out in 1981 as a one-time event in Albany. Founded by Matthew Eastman, their popularity has grown to the point that 32 shows are scheduled for nine different locations this year, a Website states.

Dunlap, who used to work security for Eastman Gun Shows recalled that Eastman was "very strict" about security and firearm safety.

"Security won't allow anybody to bring a gun into a show without it being disabled," Dunlap said. "And an officer walks the floor most of the day, checking guns on tables to make sure no gun has come untied. They are meticulous."

Eastman, who has written publications about the history of Browning firearms, was at the event, but unavailable for comment Sunday.

Accidental shootings at gun shows are not common, but they do happen. In May, a gun dealer and his stepson were wounded in an accidental shooting at a Florence, Ala., gun show. The dealer reached for his personal handgun from a side holster when it fired, hitting him in the hand and his stepson in the leg.

Even after the shooting Sunday, folks continued to pour into the gun show. Some arrived with handguns strapped to their waists; others carried uncovered rifles and shotguns. Khaled Eid of Lilburn had his twin, 4-year-old boys in tow.

The incident, he said, was yet another reason to "get out of a sport I have loved since I was 12."

"Lately, it has not been worth it, with the children and all," Eid said. "I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of my guns and rifles."

Some, like Sam Kremer of Alpharetta, wondered whether the incident would cast a pall over gun shows in general.

"Any gun is only as safe as its owner," said Kremer, who brought two semi-automatic rifles to the show in hopes of selling them.

[billhilly]

Bless the child. I pray he recovers.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

FYI ping........

[Lysander]

Everyone knows it is drugs that kill people not guns...

[The Other Harry]

Everyone knows it is drugs that kill people not guns...

I'm not quite sure what you intended to say there.

Could be that you should try again tomoorow.

[AF68]

Betcha this story is prominently featured tommorrow on ABC/CBS/NBC.

[Orangedog]

I won't be foolish enough to think that the networks would pass this one up. We REALLY don't need this.

[Jupiter II]

Totaly bogus article, onsite report claimed the customer was inquirng about a holster for a sidearm which was at home, the holster vendor allegedly offered his sidearm for fitting, the customer then allegedly holstered the sidearm and negligently disharged a round into his sons head, the elderly leather and holster vendor immediately fell back with a heart attack. If true it is deplorable the father did not admit his avoidable negligence. Instead of stressing the number 1 rule in firearm responsibility we get proaganda.

[Pharmboy]

Thanks for your report. What an absolutely awful avoidable tragedy...the vendor should have unloaded before handing his pistol over...

[cinFLA]

"It appears to be an accidental shooting," said Gwinnett Police Spokesman Ray Dunlap, who did not expect charges to be filed. "At this point, we don't know if it was a vendor's gun, but it was not a gun being exhibited on a table. It was an unfortunate discharge."

I would like to see an investigation. Guns don't just load themselves and fire at random. Charges may be warranted.

[two23]

I don't like the term "accidental discharge"...the proper term is "Dangerous-Deadly Stupidity"
Anyone who does not handle a firearm in a crowd or otherwise, with any abundance of caution does NOT "accidently discharge".
It's a mistake, blunder, wrecklessness and an inconsideration for the safety of others.
Prayers for the boy and his family.
Folks, It's ALWAYS loaded.
This makes us all look bad.

[Jupiter II]

i agree, that would have broken the chain of events.

[Jhoffa_]

Oh my.. This is so needless.

But, to compound this tragedy not only is the boy hurt and the person responsible probably ready to shoot themselves next, we are going to have YET ANOTHER round of screaming about the evils of (GASP!) guns.

The scoccer mom types who don't understand machines (and thus believe they are unpredictable and inherently dangerous) and the Liberal gun haters with the chips on their sholders are going to have a field day with this.

They are going to build their altar to a "safer" America right on top of this boy's bed in the middle of ICU.

It's a sad day for everyone from what I can see.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Already posted here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/716131/posts

[Askel5]

Can this version be sourced online anywhere?

[Pharmboy]

I searched on a few terms in the AP story headline and found nothing. Sorry--all please go to the linked thread and let this one die.

[Jupiter II]

i doubt it, this report was given over phone from a vendor at the Norcross gunshow to a vendor at an Orlando gunshow within the hour after it happened

[GaltMeister]

NO DOUBT. Bud, I can watch you open, clear, and safe a weapon, and then hand it to me, and I will open it and look myself, it's just a habit. People look at me funny when I do that, but hey, nothing wrong with a double check. You are right to always treat them like they are loaded.