A 62-year-old Texas man is in jail in Lincoln after he accidentally shot his 12-year-old grandson Saturday evening at a wedding west of Denton, according to Lancaster County sheriff's deputies.
Michael Gardner of Odessa, Texas, was set to officiate the wedding at Hillside Events and, in an attempt to gather the crowd's attention, planned to fire a blank from his revolver into the air around 5 p.m. Saturday, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said.
Gardner
LANCASTER COUNTY JAIL
But when Gardner cocked back the hammer of his Pietta 1860 snub nose revolver, it slipped, Houchin said, sending a projectile into his grandson's shoulder.
The 12-year-old, also from Texas, was taken by ambulance from 12400 W. Denton Road to a Lincoln hospital before being moved to Children's Hospital in Omaha, Houchin said. His injuries aren't thought to be life-threatening.
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Houchin said Gardner had made his own blank round, putting black powder into a .45-caliber casing and gluing it closed.
"What we believe is the glue is what injured the child," Houchin said.
Deputies seized the handgun and the spent casing, he said.
Gardner turned himself in to authorities Monday morning at the Lancaster County Jail, where he was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse, a charge usually reserved for intentional injuries.
Houchin said the extent of the boy's injuries and the use of a firearm led deputies to seek the felony charge. Gardner hasn't yet been charged with a crime, but he is expected to make his initial court appearance Monday afternoon.
"It's just kind of neglectful to take a gun out, that has blanks, and fire it amongst people," Houchin said.
"Just another example that playing with firearms — no matter what, if they're blanks — bad things can certainly happen," he added. "We do not believe Michael intended to hurt his grandchild, but the act was not very smart."
A 62-year-old Texas man is in jail in Lincoln after he accidentally shot his 12-year-old grandson Saturday evening at a wedding west of Denton, according to Lancaster County sheriff's deputies.
Michael Gardner of Odessa, Texas, was set to officiate the wedding at Hillside Events and, in an attempt to gather the crowd's attention, planned to fire a blank from his revolver into the air around 5 p.m. Saturday, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said.
Gardner
LANCASTER COUNTY JAIL
But when Gardner cocked back the hammer of his Pietta 1860 snub nose revolver, it slipped, Houchin said, sending a projectile into his grandson's shoulder.
The 12-year-old, also from Texas, was taken by ambulance from 12400 W. Denton Road to a Lincoln hospital before being moved to Children's Hospital in Omaha, Houchin said. His injuries aren't thought to be life-threatening.
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio
Houchin said Gardner had made his own blank round, putting black powder into a .45-caliber casing and gluing it closed.
"What we believe is the glue is what injured the child," Houchin said.
Deputies seized the handgun and the spent casing, he said.
Gardner turned himself in to authorities Monday morning at the Lancaster County Jail, where he was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse, a charge usually reserved for intentional injuries.
Houchin said the extent of the boy's injuries and the use of a firearm led deputies to seek the felony charge. Gardner hasn't yet been charged with a crime, but he is expected to make his initial court appearance Monday afternoon.
"It's just kind of neglectful to take a gun out, that has blanks, and fire it amongst people," Houchin said.
"Just another example that playing with firearms — no matter what, if they're blanks — bad things can certainly happen," he added. "We do not believe Michael intended to hurt his grandchild, but the act was not very smart."
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Michael Gardner of Odessa, Texas, was set to officiate the wedding at Hillside Events and, in an attempt to gather the crowd's attention, planned to fire a blank from his revolver into the air around 5 p.m. Saturday, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said.
Gardner
LANCASTER COUNTY JAIL
But when Gardner cocked back the hammer of his Pietta 1860 snub nose revolver, it slipped, Houchin said, sending a projectile into his grandson's shoulder.
The 12-year-old, also from Texas, was taken by ambulance from 12400 W. Denton Road to a Lincoln hospital before being moved to Children's Hospital in Omaha, Houchin said. His injuries aren't thought to be life-threatening.
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio
Houchin said Gardner had made his own blank round, putting black powder into a .45-caliber casing and gluing it closed.
"What we believe is the glue is what injured the child," Houchin said.
Deputies seized the handgun and the spent casing, he said.
Gardner turned himself in to authorities Monday morning at the Lancaster County Jail, where he was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse, a charge usually reserved for intentional injuries.
Houchin said the extent of the boy's injuries and the use of a firearm led deputies to seek the felony charge. Gardner hasn't yet been charged with a crime, but he is expected to make his initial court appearance Monday afternoon.
"It's just kind of neglectful to take a gun out, that has blanks, and fire it amongst people," Houchin said.
"Just another example that playing with firearms — no matter what, if they're blanks — bad things can certainly happen," he added. "We do not believe Michael intended to hurt his grandchild, but the act was not very smart."
A 62-year-old Texas man is in jail in Lincoln after he accidentally shot his 12-year-old grandson Saturday evening at a wedding west of Denton, according to Lancaster County sheriff's deputies.
Michael Gardner of Odessa, Texas, was set to officiate the wedding at Hillside Events and, in an attempt to gather the crowd's attention, planned to fire a blank from his revolver into the air around 5 p.m. Saturday, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said.
Gardner
LANCASTER COUNTY JAIL
But when Gardner cocked back the hammer of his Pietta 1860 snub nose revolver, it slipped, Houchin said, sending a projectile into his grandson's shoulder.
The 12-year-old, also from Texas, was taken by ambulance from 12400 W. Denton Road to a Lincoln hospital before being moved to Children's Hospital in Omaha, Houchin said. His injuries aren't thought to be life-threatening.
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio
Houchin said Gardner had made his own blank round, putting black powder into a .45-caliber casing and gluing it closed.
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"What we believe is the glue is what injured the child," Houchin said.
Deputies seized the handgun and the spent casing, he said.
Gardner turned himself in to authorities Monday morning at the Lancaster County Jail, where he was arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse, a charge usually reserved for intentional injuries.
Houchin said the extent of the boy's injuries and the use of a firearm led deputies to seek the felony charge. Gardner hasn't yet been charged with a crime, but he is expected to make his initial court appearance Monday afternoon.
"It's just kind of neglectful to take a gun out, that has blanks, and fire it amongst people," Houchin said.
"Just another example that playing with firearms — no matter what, if they're blanks — bad things can certainly happen," he added. "We do not believe Michael intended to hurt his grandchild, but the act was not very smart."
Texas man accidentally shot grandson at Lancaster County wedding, deputy says
A 62-year-old Texas man is in jail in Lincoln after he accidentally shot his 12-year-old grandson Saturday evening at a wedding west of Denton, according to Lancaster County sheriff's deputies.
