Posted on 12/16/2004 4:10:11 PM PST by Ellesu
CHANDLER, OK. -- A 9-year-old girl was shot while sleeping in her own bed. And her younger brother is the one who pulled the trigger.
It happened just before 8 a.m. Wednesday. The gunman is just 6-years-old.
Sheriff's deputies said the mother's rifle didn't have a lock on it, so all the boy had to do was grab the gun, load it, and shoot it. Luckily, though, he was just a little off the mark.
"My granddaughter is 9-years-old," said Ronny Jones. "We could have buried her today."
It's a wake-up call Ronny and Glenda Jones will never forget. Officers said their grandson, Caleb, used a 22-caliber rifle to shoot their grand-daughter, his sister, Courtney, while she slept.
"When I first heard, I was told she was shot in the head," Glenda Jones said.
According to Chester Duncan, spokesman for the Lincoln Co. Sheriff's Dept., "apparently her 6-year-old brother had went to the mother's bedroom, where a cabinet was located. The 6-year-old then grabbed a hold of the rifle."
Duncan said the boy loaded the gun, then took it to the bedroom where his sister was sleeping, pointed it at her and pulled the trigger.
The bullet went straight through Courtney's left hip. Luckily, it bypassed any of her vital muscle tissues. And it's a good thing the 6-year-old was a bad shot. Ronny Jones said the young boy had two more bullets in his hand and was ready to reload and shoot again.
"The particular gun he used is so old it won't eject any empty shells," Ronny Jones said. "Therefore, you have to take a knife or something and dig the empty shell out before you can reload."
Caleb's grandparents said their grandson seems to have little remorse for what he's done. They're not even sure if he even realizes he nearly used a bullet to end to his sister's life.
"We think he's just maybe playing out his anger," Ronny Jones said. "He's got problems right now because of his father walking out."
Courtney is recovering at Children's hospital. She should be released in the coming days. Courtney's brother, Caleb, will soon undergo extensive counseling.
It certainly does sound like he knew exactly what he was doing and meant to kill his sister --- not just injure her.
Hopefully as an in-patient in a secure facility.
I think the sister may be the one that will need some counseling, it's to late for little Cain.
Back in high school, one of my substitute teachers was blind due to a shotgun exploding in his face.
I have 2 rifles and 2 shotguns in my unlocked closet...Along with the necessary ammo...Must be a real mystery how my kids grew up without all of us killing each other with these weapons...
According to a friend of mine (a child psychologist) a number of years back following a discussion about a child this same age in California who killed some other child, this behavior is so embedded in this child due to such an early age that he will forever be a threat to society.
Whether or not it is true, I have no idea but I have great respect for him and his knowledge........
the reporter was quoting the Sheriff's Spokesman
Are they all inbred in this town? If he had set her on fire it would have been the parent's fault for not hiding the matches. Don't they realize how unbalanced this child is?
At least one error of usage, and one in spelling. It should be "had done went" instead of "had went"; and the correct spelling is "grabbed a-holt".
No wonder this country is a-fallin behint other nayshuns in edumication. Sheesh!
FRICKING BAD APPLE GUN OWNERS RUIN IT FOR EVERYONE ELSE!
Courtney is recovering at Children's hospital. She should be released in the coming days. Courtney's brother, Caleb, will soon undergo extensive counseling.
Also the father and mother grandma and grandpa should undergo a mental stability test for even teaching a 6 year old how to load a rifle let alone leaving it in his reach these kinds of gun owners give good gun owners a bad name !
Not to mention some stories I've read where the guns seemingly act alone to commit murder...you guys got lucky!
And if a burglar breaks into your house and steals them and injures himself or someone else with them, then you can be sued for not securing your firearms.
Not knowing the difference between right and wrong is a direct result of no parental dicipline and possible early exposure to violent movies and/or video games.
You know I do agree with that generally. In fact I would say 99 % of the time.
but this kid didn't steal a candy bar, he was aiming a gun to kill his sister, and he's six. 6 year olds understand life and death.
And he didn't feel bad about it. . .
You sure he didn't "grab a holt of the rifle"? This was Oklahoma, right?
Same here,my father had his rifle and shotgun in a shed by our main barn.
I knew that they were not to be touched or the wrath of God would be a more pleasant alternative to what would happen to me.
Whether an accident or intentional lack of parental discipline and control is prob the cause.
I don`t know if a 6 year old has an inherent knowledge that this would be wrong.Understand most parents probably will not tell their kids at 6 years of age that they should`nt kill their brothers/sisters.They should let them know it is wrong to hurt them,usually by hitting,scratching,etc at that age.
I suspect that this is where the breakdown started,never saying "that is wrong, don`t do that again or there will be consequences".
Lack of responsibility/punishment for actions went to the extreme degree here.I can`t help but to think that allowing some of the video games out today add to this problem.My parents wouldn`t even let me watch the old King Kong movie until I was almost a teenager.
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