Man who accidentally shot, killed brother: ‘I relive it every day’

[Robb]

Man who accidentally shot, killed brother: 'I relive it every day'

Eric Charlton, 27, was at Yuba Lake with his brother Cameron, 17, and another teen on Memorial Day weekend in 2012. Eric was demonstrating firearm techniques with his Colt .45 handgun when he picked up the gun and swung it towards Cameron.

The gun accidentally went off, killing Cameron. Eric says he’d pulled the magazine out of the gun, but didn’t know there was a live round still in it.

“I reached over and grabbed the gun and I grabbed the holster and went like this and it caught. I pulled it harder and it came out and hit Cameron’s shoulder. I limp wristed into the trigger and the gun went off,” Eric said.

(snip)

“I relive it every day, it plays through my mind and I can’t get it out,” he said. ”It’s one of the most horrible, horrific things you’d have to see. Especially it being your best friend, your brother.”

[abelenkpe]

1. K&R nt

[Journeyman]

2. I hit my brother on the side of the face with a rock from a slingshot . . .

Came close to his eye but did no lasting damage.

I still cringe in horror whenever I remember it, and it's been 50 years. It was so damn close and it could have done so much damage.

I can't imagine what someone like Eric must go through. And to think, he has 50 or more years to live with the memory.

[louis-t]

3. "demonstrating firearm techniques" =

showing off his quickdraw. The smart ones say "I don't EVER want to hold a firearm again." The dumb ones, like the guy that shot his daughter through the closet door because he thought she was a burglar, vow to keep the gun to 'perteck' themselves.

[rightsideout]

4. It's aways that one forgotten bullet left in the chamber

I wonder how many times this plays out each year.

[oldhippydude]

6. blew a whole in the freezer once that way....

the friend who I was demonstrating the pistol to tells me I turned a pale white.... I was speechless, yet grateful I had the common sense not to point the weapon at my friend....

surprisingly the bullet missed any coils, and the freezer remained functional.... I was able to putty in the hole, and cover with spray paint... it was not discovered by my parents, for at least a decade later, when they moved from the house..

that was a vivid lesson..

[rightsideout]

8. Wow!

That's some story. Glad the metal was soft enough to absorb the bullet. Good job on the body work

[Phentex]

9. does seem to be the case

in many, many stories including the more recent one where the dad shot his son by accident.

[Marrah_G]

5. What a horrible thing to have to live with

[rightsideout]

7. I can relate

At the range my son left a round in his .22 when we all went up to get our targets. The gun was on the table pointed right at us. Fortunately, the gun range guy noticed it and gave my son a review of the procedures again. Good thing it didn't go off.

After things like that and all the other gun accidents I hear about plus my dumb luck I refuse to keep guns in the house. We only use the guns at the range.

[Downtown Hound]

10. First thing I was ever taught about guns: never aim one at anything you don't intend to destroy

That's why you NEVER play around with them and aim them at people EVEN WHEN THEY'RE EMPTY. Always treat them as if they're loaded even when you're sure they are not. Although, as I've learned, guns and stupidity often go hand in hand with many people, which is why we need tighter restrictions. You can't cure stupid from the human race.