Related To Story Survey: Minors Use Guns With Supervision? PDF: Indictments In Gun-Show Uzi Death |
Police Launch Look Into Child Shot By Uzi
Investigators Question If Child Shooting Gun Is Legal, Reckless
POSTED: 7:12 pm EDT October 28,
2008
UPDATED: 8:20 pm EDT October 28,
2008
WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The Hampden District Attorney’s Office is working to find whether any gun laws were violated in the shooting death of an 8-year-old Ashford boy who accidentally shot himself with a fully loaded Uzi.Hampden County District Attorney William Bennett said Tuesday that he hasn't been able to find any law that would authorize a young child to possess or fire a machine gun.
Police said Christopher Bizilj was firing a .9 mm micro Uzi machine gun at the Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo in Westfield, Mass., when he lost control and accidentally shot himself in the head. He was under the supervision of a certified instructor at the time, they said.The boy was at the event Sunday with his father.A member of the Westfield Sportsman's Club, which has hosted the event since 2002, has an excellent safety record.A YouTube video discovered Tuesday shows several instances of young children firing Uzis at the Westfield Sportsman's Club over the weekend.An autopsy confirmed the Bizilj died of a single gunshot wound to the side of the head. State and city police, as well as federal investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Eplosives, are now involved in the investigation.The criminal probe will determine if it was legal, as well as reckless, for a child to possess or fire a machine gun, police said.Massachusetts troopers and Westfield police are interviewing witnesses and working to obtain records and licenses related to the event. Police said they’ve also obtained a video that may be helpful.
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Previous Stories:
- Oct. 27, 2008: Third-Grader Dies After Shooting Self With Uzi
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