SARASOTA, Fla. – A 64-year-old Florida man who authorities say accidentally shot and killed his 14-year-old son at a shooting range is blaming himself – not the gun – for the death.
Clayton Brumby tells the Tampa Bay Times he fired off one last shot from the .22-semi-automatic Ruger SR22 on Sunday while his son Stephen patiently waited for his turn at High Noon Guns.
Brumby says a smoking hot shell casing went down the back of his shirt, causing him to flail both arms in the air. His finger was still on the trigger, which fired. He says the bullet ricocheted off the ceiling and struck the teen in the jugular vein.
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Brumby calls the incident “stupid and freaky” because he should have put the gun down.
Sarasota County Sheriff’s officials say the shooting was accidental and no charges are planned.