Fifth grader accidentally shoots himself at school

[rodbarnett]

An Alief fifth grader is in stable condition this afternoon after he accidentally shot himself at school this morning.

The shooting happened in a classroom of 20 to 22 students on the Youens Elementary campus at 12141 Highstar about 10:30 a.m.

No other students or teachers were injured, but school officials brought in a "crisis team" to counsel classmates who may have been upset by the shooting.

The injured student, whose name has not been released, brought a .380 semiautomatic pistol from home concealed in his waistband, said Alief Independent School District spokeswoman Cathy Giardina.

Giardina said the boy showed the pistol to another child and was tucking the gun back into his waistband when it discharged, firing a round into his groin area.

The bullet passed through the boy's body, went through his chair and into the floor, officials said. The boy was able to pick up the bullet and carry it out of the classroom to give to authorities, Giardina said.



http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2385458

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. guns dont kill people!!!!!!!!!!

just children of the people who own guns....really whats wrong with parents!

[proud patriot]

2. :-(

:-(

[Zero Gravitas]

3. OW!

That must have hurt. I hope the boy is OK of course and hopefully he will have learned a lesson. Now all they need to do is to prosecute his reckless parents.

[NuckinFutz]

6. warning..this is cold hearted..but..

Since he shot himself in the groin, perhaps this line of idiocy has been cut short.

This is so odd it could almost qualify for the Darwin awards.

[Judi Lynn]

8. I am reminded, after reading your post, of this recent story

Father fatally shoots teenage son by accident while hunting
By The Associated Press
(01/20/04- JACKSONVILLE, FL) — A family is struggling to cope with the death of their 14-year-old son, killed by his father in a hunting accident.

ABC13 National/World news
Interactive Guide: The Race for the White House


Dennis Plucknett said he mistook his son Alex's black cap for a wild hog when he aimed and fired his rifle Saturday during a hunt in Baker County in northeast Florida.

Monday, the Plucknetts were mourning Alex, an eighth grade Boy Scout who wanted to be a big-league pitcher and had thrown a no-hitter last year. He also had recently earned his scuba diving license, just like his brother and father.

"This family is devastated. They are hurting real bad," Ted Hires, a family spokesman, told The Florida Times-Union. "Alex was an exceptional young man (who) had a lot of dreams." (snip)

Witnesses told deputies Alex Plucknett was in a ditch next to a tree about 225 yards from the camp, when someone yelled, "Hog!" (snip)

"Dennis and Jon immediately ran in the direction where Dennis thought he shot the hog, only to discover Alex lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the back of his head," wrote Officer Charles Goldsmith.
(snip/...)

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/012004_APnat_hunterdeath.html

[Stuckinthebush]

10. Come on, now...

He was a kid. He lives in a country that idolizes guns and gun users. He found a gun at home, thought it would be "cool" to show it to kids at school, figured he might get a little "respect" because of it, and while quitely hiding it back in his pants - it went off.

If this had been a 35 year old man, then I might agree with you. But a kid?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

11. or persecuted

depending on who you ask!

[Zero Gravitas]

13. hmmm

Being prosecuted for letting your gun fall into the hands of a fifth grader (who obviously did not have any gun safety training) could be considered "persecution" ?

I thought the NRA etc were in favor of responsible gun ownership?

[veganwitch]

4. ive fired a 38

thats a really heavy gun. if he was just tucking it in the waistband of his clothes, someone should have been able to notice it.

[CO Liberal]

7. Is That a .38 In Your Pants...

...or are you happy to see me???

:-)

[leanings]

14. .380, kids.

.380 ACP, aka 9mm Kurz. Not a .38.

[Richardo]

5. His parents should be thrown in jail...

...then sterilized. They obviously don't qualify.

[freestatevet]

9. Harsh

But I agree...

[bleedingheart]

12. how sad

but there are people out there who would be all for guns in school..

[DavidMS]

15. If you are going to have a gun...

and have kids in the house, either teach them not to be idiots or get rid of the guns, knives, flatware, etc.

[smirkymonkey]

16. Back when I was in 5th Grade

my parents always insisted that if we were going to bring our guns to school, we should make sure that we carried the bullets separately and only load the weapon right before we were actually going to fire it.

What's with parents these days, anyway?