Arizona firearms instructor accidentally shot and killed by nine-year-old girl

The Guardian ^ | 8/26/14 | Lauren Gambino

[BlatherNaut]

A firearms instructor has died after he was shot by a nine-year-old girl when she fired an Uzi at a shooting range in the Arizona desert.

Mohave County sheriff’s officials said 39-year-old Charles Vacca, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, died at the hospital on Monday after he was shot at the Last Stop outdoor shooting range.

Mohave County Sheriff Jim McCabe told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Vacca was standing next to the girl when she pulled the trigger. The gun recoiled and it went over her head.

The paper reported that the girl had successfully fired the 9mm weapon several times in “single-shot” mode before Vacca changed the setting to “fully automatic” mode.

[Phlap]

A Darwin Award candidate. At 9, a single shot .22 would be a good starter weapon. An Uzi? Not so much.

[Mathews]

That’s some funny stuff right there. We started home schooling this year. Everyone is much happier now.

R/

[twister881]

Am trying to recall from my Navy firearms training (M-16, M1911, M-14, .38 revolver) if the instructor ever stood beside me during live fire. Always behind and usually in line with the target & shooter. This guy was attempting to help the 9-year old, but perhaps could have better controlled the situation from behind as the weapon got away from her. Will never know now. Think how awful the girl & her parents feel right now. God bless the instructor and his family.