Toddler 3, fires gun through floor wounding family friend below; FW Officer "accidentally" shot kneeling man

Douglas family wants answers in shooting death of 18-year-old

Douglas, Ga (3-29-16)    Douglas city leaders come together Tuesday evening to talk about the safety of the city after a 14-year old girl was arrested for the shooting death of an 18-year old boy. The shooting victim's family is searching for answers.

"I don't know who done this, but he was a nice boy,” said Nicole Paulk, Victim’s Sister. “He was my brother. He was my pride and joy,"

The Paulk Family is grieving the loss of 18-year-old Traveon Paulk. Police say Paulk was shot in the chest by a 14-year-old girl with a pistol in the 900 block of South Coffee avenue Monday night before 10:00 p.m.  "My momma just got through talking to him on the phone, on the phone,” said Paulk. “She told him to come home. He said he was alright."

The Douglas Police chief held a news conference to talk about the shooting. He says investigators are trying to figure out if the shooting was an accident.  "The original call dispatched from 911 was of an accidental shooting,” said Chief Gary Casteloes, Douglas Police Department.  Police say they're interviewing witnesses and that the 14-year-old could face additional charges.  "She knows more than what she's saying and she needs to really tell the truth so we can get to the bottom of this and get justice,” said Sylvia Lee, Aunt.

Family members are calling for the violence to stop.  "Somebody has to speak up in this community because we're tired of the killing,” said Francine Thornton, Relative.  "It just don't make no sense,” said Michael Paulk, Relative. “Put the guns down."

They're also hoping the community will come forward with answers.  "Just please come and tell us because my mama ain't gone be able to sleep, but I know she got justice,” said Paulk.  "She cannot never get her child back and it's sad,” said Lee.

The 14-year-old girl is currently in the Regional Youth Detention Center in Waycross charged with Involuntary Manslaughter.

Anyone with any information on the shooting can find the Douglas Police Department's anonymous tip line at 912-260-3600.

http://www.walb.com/story/31595356/douglas-family-wants-answers-in-shooting-death-of-18-year-old




ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING BY TODDLER IN RIGBY

RIGBY, ID (3-30-16) On March 26, Rigby Police Chief Keith Hammon was informed by the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center’s (EIRMC) officer on duty, of a patient that had come in with a gunshot wound.

The victim, Travis Sorensen, 25, of Idaho Falls, was lying on a couch in the basement of a home at 330 W. First South, when he was shot in the left foot.

Witnesses at the home say they were in the process of helping the family move, when a bed was broken down and a gun was found between the mattresses. The gun was placed on the floor and later picked up by a 3-year-old. The toddler discharged the weapon into the floor, the bullet ricocheted off of a window sill and struck Sorensen in the left foot. Sorensen has been treated at EIRMC for his injury.

No charges have been filed and police consider the incident closed.

The Rigby Police Department remind residents to keep all guns safely secured, and locked, especially those homes with small children.

http://www.eastidahonews.com/2016/03/accidental-shooting-by-toddler-in-rigby/




Dashcam video shows FW officer-involved shooting

FORT WORTH, TX   (3-30-16) Fort Worth police released video Wednesday of an officer shooting a man he thought could be a prowler.

A Tarrant County grand jury indicted Officer Courtney Johnson on Tuesday for “recklessly” discharging his shotgun. The officer said he didn’t mean to fire.

Chief Joel Fitzgerald said he released the video in the interest of transparency. The officer is white; the victim is black.

Silent dash cam video shows officer Johnson enter from the left with a shotgun pointed at a man standing on the side of the street. It's 3:30 in the morning on June 23, 2015.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/fw-police-release-dashcam-video-showing-officer-involved-shooting/110372292




Man accidentally shot near Shreveport fire station

SHREVEPORT, LA (3-30-16) A man was accidentally shot in the foot Monday night near a Shreveport fire station.  It happened around 10:45 p.m. in the 2000 block of David Raines Road near Shreveport Fire Station 6.

The victim told police his friend was loading his handgun when it accidentally discharged and hit him in the foot.  The victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

No charges were filed.

http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/31597829/man-accidentally-shot-at-shreveport-fire-station




Beloit man arrested after accidentally shooting self

BELOIT, WI (3-30-16) A Beloit man was arrested after he apparently accidentally shot himself in the leg and then went to the hospital.

Shawn M. Rouse, 27, was arrested at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday for being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to Beloit Police Sgt. Matt Donovan.

Donovan said police aren’t sure if he shot himself in a car of in a home, but a car with blood evidence in it was found in the 1400 block of Hull Avenue.

http://www.beloitdailynews.com/beloit-man-arrested-after-accidentally-shooting-self/article_a73bd1b6-f689-11e5-9bc9-ffdbe5dee169.html




Police: Woman shot her boyfriend

Somer­ton, Pa (3-30-16) A Somer­ton wo­man says she ac­ci­dent­ally shot her boy­friend in the leg in­side their home, but she’s fa­cing crim­in­al charges for the Fri­day night in­cid­ent any­way, ac­cord­ing to po­lice.

The 911 call went out at about 8:44 p.m. when someone re­por­ted a “per­son with a gun” on the 400 block of Jeanes St. Of­ficers from the 7th dis­trict ar­rived at the scene and found a man, 54, bleed­ing heav­ily from his left leg. Melanie Ma­jer, 54, of that ad­dress, was at­tend­ing to the vic­tim and told the of­ficers that she had ac­ci­dent­ally shot him.

Para­med­ics took the man to Holy Re­deem­er Hos­pit­al in stable con­di­tion.

Po­lice did not dis­close the cir­cum­stances of the shoot­ing or the source of the gun, but they ar­res­ted Ma­jer for ag­grav­ated as­sault, pos­sess­ing an in­stru­ment of crime, simple as­sault and reck­less en­dan­ger­ment

http://www.northeasttimes.com/2016/mar/30/police-woman-shot-her-boyfriend/#.VvzxvByxXaw




Woman shot in the neck on Easter

An Ox­ford Circle wo­man ended up with a gun­shot wound of the neck on East­er Sunday, but in­form­a­tion is scarce about how it happened.

Ac­cord­ing to news re­ports, the shoot­ing oc­curred at about 4 p.m. on the 1400 block of Lard­ner St. A 46-year-old wo­man suffered a single wound of the neck and was taken in a private car to the emer­gency room at Aria Health’s Frank­ford cam­pus. She was lis­ted in stable con­di­tion.

Po­lice have re­leased no in­form­a­tion about a sus­pect or cir­cum­stances of the case.

http://www.northeasttimes.com/2016/mar/30/woman-shot-neck-easter/#.VvzygxyxXaw




Stolen gun found after suspect accidentally shot self, police say

ST. LOUIS, MO (3-30-16) A stolen gun was found after a man reportedly accidentally shot himself early Wednesday morning.

The man, described as a 28-year-old man, was in the 4600 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive around 12:35 a.m. when he accidentally discharged the firearm, striking himself in the hand and thigh, police said.

When police arrived, they discovered the firearm was reported stolen. Authorities said warrants will be applied for.

The suspect was taken to the hospital and listed in serious, but stable condition.

A 25-year-old man who was with the suspect at the time of the incident was found to have active bench warrants.  The investigation is ongoing.

http://www.kmov.com/story/31600288/stolen-gun-found-after-suspect-accidentally-shot-self-police-say




Free gun locks to be distributed

Suffolk, Va (3-30-16) The Suffolk Sheriff’s Office will distribute free gun locks Friday to shoppers outside Farm Fresh in North Suffolk.

Deputies will set up outside the grocery store, at 3675 Bridge Road, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., said Suffolk Sheriff’s Maj. E.C. Harris. The gun lock distribution is part of Project ChildSafe, a national campaign that promotes firearm safety and storage through law enforcement organizations.

At the same time, the Sheriff’s Office will collect nonperishable foods to donate to Bethlehem Christian Church’s food pantry, Harris said.

“There is a huge need for food out there today,” he said.

The gun locks will fit any firearm, he said.

The department will also be giving away activity books that teach children about gun safety, Harris said. He urged parents to sit down with their children and use the materials to teach them about firearm safety.

“Children are so curious … and there are no do-overs if they get their hands on a gun and something goes wrong,” said Harris.

It’s important for adults to keep firearms unloaded and locked up out of children’s reach, Harris said.

Also, gun owners should store weapons and ammunition in separate locations in the house, further avoiding the possibility of an accidental shooting, he added.

http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2016/03/30/free-gun-locks-to-be-distributed/




Three Southeast students accused in Carbondale shooting

Carbondale, Il (3-31-16) Three Southeast Missouri State University students are accused of being involved in at least one shooting Sunday in Carbondale, Illinois.

Travis T. Tyler, 21, of Webster Groves, Missouri, and John F. Ingram, 21, of Hazelwood, Missouri, are charged by the Jackson County, Illinois, state's attorney with felony aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Tyler and Ingram still were at large Wednesday.

Dewayne Dunn, 21, of St. Louis, also a Southeast student, was charged Monday with aggravated discharge of a firearm related to a shooting at 402 W. Walnut St., according to Carbondale Police, and is being held in the Jackson County Jail on a $500,000 bond.  A Southeast news release states the police investigation has determined Tyler and Ingram likely are in the St. Louis area.

Tyler, Ingram and Dunn are accused of shooting a victim at 402 W. Walnut St. in Carbondale. Aggravated battery with a firearm is a class X felony in Illinois that carries a minimum sentence of six years and a maximum of 30 years. Aggravated discharge of a firearm is a class 1 felony that can carry a minimum sentence of four years and maximum of 15 years.

Carbondale Police reported two shooting incidents early Sunday on West Walnut Street in Carbondale.
Police initially responded to a shooting that occurred at a party at 402 W. Walnut St. Police found the victim, Nehemiah Greenlee, with an injury that was not life-threatening. Tyler and Ingram are charged for their alleged roles in that shooting.

While canvassing the area, Carbondale police found the body of Tim Beaty, 41, at 334 W. Walnut St., the victim of a gunshot wound. An investigation revealed Beaty was not participating in the party but was struck inside his home by a stray bullet, Carbondale police wrote in a news release.

The Southeast Department of Public Safety, Cape Girardeau Police Department and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Police Department are assisting Carbondale police with the investigation, according to the Southeast news release.

According to Southeast, the three students have been placed on interim suspension and are not allowed onto campus pending the completion of the investigation.

http://www.semissourian.com/story/2291008.html