A family is in mourning after a father accidentally shot and killed his teenage son at a Sarasota, Florida, gun range on Sunday, July 3.
William Brumby, 64, was with his daughter and two sons at the High Noon Gun Range when the tragic accident happened on Sunday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Brumby was firing rounds in a shooting lane next to a wall when one of the shell casings hit the wall, ricocheted off and dropped down the back of the man’s shirt, according to video footage and witness statements.
The father of seven used his right hand, which was holding the gun, to try and remove the shell casing. As he reached for it, he pointed the gun behind him and accidentally fired, hitting his 14-year-old son, Stephen, who was standing behind him.
Stephen was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
David Brumby, Stephen’s 24-year-old brother who was also at the gun range with his 12-year-old sister (both were uninjured), told ABC Action News that Stephen, who was homeschooled along with his siblings, was a sweet kid.
“He was the most outgoing, gregarious, friendly, loving person you’d ever know,” he said.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=m1TLfKWvN3U
David told the news outlet that his father didn’t point the gun at Stephen — the medical examiner confirmed that the bullet that hit his brother had gone up toward the ceiling and ricocheted down, striking the teen.
“No matter how calm you try to stay, there’s no way to wipe the images away from your mind of your little brother bleeding out in your arms,” he said.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with expenses related to Stephen’s death.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident, but there are no pending charges for the father.
