Current:Home > InvestSurpassing:Man fires blank gunshot, accidentally injures grandson while officiating wedding in Nebraska: Officials -Ascend Wealth Education
Surpassing:Man fires blank gunshot, accidentally injures grandson while officiating wedding in Nebraska: Officials
SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-06 21:32:00
A Texas man was charged with felony child abuse after accidently discharging a gun and Surpassingstriking his grandson while officiating a wedding in Nebraska, officials said.
The Lancaster County Sherriff's Department said 62-year-old Michael Gardner, a commissioner in Ector County, Texas, was officiating a wedding on Saturday when he tried to fire a blank round to get the attention of wedding guests.
The round from the revolver struck his 12-year-old grandson, who was standing near him.
“When he decided to cock back the hammer of this revolver, it slipped and it shot his grandson in the left shoulder, causing an injury,” Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said during a press conference on Monday.
Houchin said they believe Gardner made the blank rounds by putting black powder into the .45 casings and then gluing it.
"What we believe is the glue is what injured the child,” Houchin said.
More:Preschooler 'unintentionally' shot 1-year-old brother in Texas home, sheriff says
The Ector County District Attorney's Office, where Gardner is employed, said in a statement it was aware of the incident and that Gardner will address the matter publicly next week.
More:6-year-old dies after accidentally shot in head by another child, Florida police say
Grandson transported to hospital with non life-threatening laceration
The child sustained a deep laceration to his left shoulder and was taken to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries. He was then transferred to another facility in Omaha for further treatment, Houchin said.
Gardner turned himself in on Monday morning. Officials also retrieved the gun, ammunition, and casing from Gardner. Houchin said he doesn't believe Gardner intended to harm his grandchild but called his actions "not very smart."
“It’s just kind of neglectful to take a gun out that has blanks and fire it amongst people,” Houchin said. “Playing with firearms, no matter what, [even] if they’re blanks, bad things can certainly happen.”
More:3-year-old accidentally shoots, kills 1-year-old sister with unsecured gun, police in California say
Gardner charged with felony child abuse
Houchin said Gardner was charged with felony child abuse because of the seriousness of the injuries. If he's convicted, he could face up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Under Nebraska law, a negligent act that results in serious bodily injury would constitute a felony charge.
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- PGA Tour says U.S. golf would likely struggle without Saudi cash infusion
- Bob Huggins says he didn't resign as West Virginia basketball coach
- Mary Nichols Was the Early Favorite to Run Biden’s EPA, Before She Became a ‘Casualty’
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Two Indicators: The 2% inflation target
- Squid Game Season 2 Gets Ready for the Games to Begin With New Stars and Details
- Migrant girl with illness dies in U.S. custody, marking fourth such death this year
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- FAA contractors deleted files — and inadvertently grounded thousands of flights
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Global Efforts to Adapt to the Impacts of Climate Are Lagging as Much as Efforts to Slow Emissions
- Get In on the Quiet Luxury Trend With Mind-Blowing Tory Burch Deals up to 70% Off
- Twitter auctioned off office supplies, including a pizza oven and neon bird sign
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- Everything Kourtney Kardashian Has Said About Wanting a Baby With Travis Barker
- 'It's like gold': Onions now cost more than meat in the Philippines
- U.S. hits its debt limit and now risks defaulting on its bills
Recommendation
Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
A rocky past haunts the mysterious company behind the Lensa AI photo app
Kourtney Kardashian Debuts Baby Bump Days After Announcing Pregnancy at Travis Barker's Concert
These Bathroom Organizers Are So Chic, You'd Never Guess They Were From Amazon
North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
Over 100 Nations at COP26 Pledge to Cut Global Methane Emissions by 30 Percent in Less Than a Decade
Bridgerton Unveils First Look at Penelope and Colin’s Glow Up in “Scandalous” Season 3
A rocky past haunts the mysterious company behind the Lensa AI photo app