Posted on 01/01/2010 4:46:43 PM PST by rawhide
A 4-year-old boy attending a New Year's Eve church service with his family was killed when a stray bullet came through the roof, hitting him in the head.
The boy, Marquel Peters, was sitting beside his mother in the sanctuary during an intermission, said Lloyd Phipps, senior pastor at the Church of God of Prophecy near Decatur.
About 350 people were gathered in the DeKalb County church on Covington Drive, waiting for a concert to begin at 12:30 a.m. Friday, Phipps said.
"We heard a loud pop, which we now assume was when the bullet came through the roof," Phipps said.
The child, who had been playing a video game moments before the incident, fell to the floor.
"He appeared to be unconscious at first, and then he started crying," Phipps said.
Phipps said the church members prayed for the child, and continued with the planned concert, believing the child would survive his injury.
The child was rushed to a hospital, where he later died, according to Officer Jason Gagnon with DeKalb police.
The pastor and the parishioners where still in the church when they learned of the child's death about 3:30 a.m., Phipps said. He said during the concert, the boy's family kept him updated on the child's condition, which he believed was improving.
Investigators returned to the church later Friday, where they discovered the point of entry for the bullet: in the roof of the church. Phipps said police believe someone fired a celebratory shot into the air, and it went through the roof on its way down.
"It's one of those things that you just cannot make any sense out of," Phipps said. "This lady took her kid to church, which is the right thing to do. And her son got killed because of someone’s irresponsible behavior."
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
These Morons never heard of Sir Issac Newton
I can never understand why people feel the need to fire guns in the air to celebrate. The bullets gotta go somewhere
I have friend who had a bullet come thru her living room ceiling a few years ago while she was out. And there are strict laws about firing guns in these parts. Never did figure out where the bullet came from.
No. The kid was rushed off to hospital but the program continued.
that was my my first thought too - but further on it mentioned they were kept informed of his progress from the parents at the hospital.
Just bad writing...
The roof must have been made out of paper. That could not happen if it were a regular roof. No way.
My dad was a beat cop in Detroit. On NYE 1951, he was on a foot patrol on Hastings and walked past an alley. Some idiot at the other end of the alley was firing off some celebratory rounds and shot my dad in the back. He was wearing his police heavy winter coat and he told me later that it felt like someone had slammed him in the back with a Louisvill Slugger. They took my dad to a nearby hospital for a checkup, but Thank God he was unhurt. The idiot was probably firing a .22.
From the way I read the story, it sounds as if the child was taken to the hospital, but they kept on with the concert at the church. I agree, it is not well written.
“I’m having a little trouble buying this story.”
Maybe it was a thatch roof. I can’t believe that terminal velocity of a bullet falling would allow any but the largest, like .50 cal from a .50BMG to go through any but the flimsiest of roofs.
I could be wrong.
So you don’t believe in ballistics?
I think it would have to be pretty substantial and slow moving to feel like a louisville slugger. I don’t think a 22 would do it.
Mythbusters is entertainment mixed with very, very bad science.
It could have been short range direct fire, then a change in direction upon hitting the roof or a truss.
Me, too.
Were they in a tent?
The child was rushed to the hospital immediately. Just poor writing that makes it look different.
There are dozens of documented cases of falling bullets kiling and injuring. I had a hole punched through the hood of my car from a falling bullet.
7.62x39 FMJ would be my bet, combined with a flimsy church roof. No way a handgun projectile would do that.
Atlanta Urinal Constipation.
Not just there it happens a lot here too. We are in SE Ohio and last night at midnight I heard them going off all over. I just said to Dh ;ast night that it would be awful to be sitting in your livingroom and be killed by a stray bullet.
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