Man accidentally shot child while officiating wedding near Lincoln, deputy says
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Texas man accidentally shot a child while officiating a wedding in Lancaster County on Saturday, the sheriff’s office says.
Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said deputies were sent to a wedding at Hillside Events near Denton on a report of a gunshot wound.
Deputies learned that 62-year-old Michael Gardner, the wedding’s officiant, fired a gun to get everyone’s attention.
“He was going to fire in the air, and as he did that, it slipped and went off,” Houchin said.
The gun was loaded with a blank that Gardner made with gunpowder and glue.
Houchin said Gardner accidentally shot a child in the shoulder. They were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
On Monday, Gardner turned himself in. He was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse.
“It’s just kind of neglectful to take a gun out that has blanks and fire amongst people,” Houchin said.
Investigators do not think alcohol was a factor in the shooting.
Gardner hasn’t been charged yet. He is expected to make a court appearance in the coming days.
dblan9 on October 3rd, 2023 at 12:09 UTC »
It might be easier to go with "What was a good idea in any of that"?
RicardoMultiball on October 3rd, 2023 at 11:51 UTC »
Uhm, is this a story from 1887?
LuckyBobHoboJoe on October 3rd, 2023 at 11:46 UTC »
"How will I get everyone's attention as I stand in front of them?? Bells? Maybe a song from my phone? A megaphone???"
*looks at gun safe*