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Youngster's gun show killing still a mystery
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
[ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 7/16/02 ]
Youngster's gun show killing still a mystery
It's unclear who fired round from behind counter
By RICK BADIE and ANDREA JONES
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writers
Who did it?
Who accidentally shot 13-year-old Steven Bray King in the face Sunday at a Gwinnett County gun show? And how did it happen?
A day after the incident, a boy who loved to read and tinker with computer parts has died, and police don't know what happened.
A Gwinnett police spokesman said only two groups of people were allowed to carry loaded weapons at the Eastman Gun Show -- vendors and the security working the event at the North Atlanta Trade Center in Norcross.
But the gunshow promoter's attorney said vendors can't carry loaded weapons during any of the 32 shows put on by Matthew Eastman of Fitzgerald.
Amid the contentions, police are trying to piece together a sequence of events to explain the shooting.
"We're trying to answer two questions," Gwinnett Cpl. Ray Dunlap said Monday. "Whose gun was it? And who had control of the weapon when it was fired?"
What's known is that a bullet blasted from behind a counter pierced Steven's eye. Paramedics and a doctor worked feverishly to save the boy. They rushed him to the hospital with his father, Anthony Grant, by his side. Kathi McQueen, Grant's girlfriend, and her daughter trailed the ambulance.
Steven died at 12:10 p.m. Monday at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, 24 hours after he was shot with a .38-caliber handgun at point-blank range. His organs were being donated "to help someone else," Grant, 38, said late Monday.
Guns brought to shows by the public, as well as those on exhibit, must have plastic safety ties attached to prevent discharging. Dunlap, who used to work security for Eastman shows, said vendors are allowed to carry loaded weapons at the events.
Atlanta attorney Joseph Wargowho represents Eastman, and Mark Barnes, a lawyer for the National Association of Arms Shows, said otherwise.
Vendors sign a policy in writing that says they will not carry loaded weapons, according to rules posted on Eastman's Web site. Wargo said security personnel also are required to check vendors as well as folks who attend the show.
"It is a very unfortunate incident, " Wargo said, "but nothing at all in how the gun show was run contributed" to it. He said Eastman shows is conducting its own investigation.
Barnes, of Washington, said gun-show promoters abide by federal, state and local laws in addition to association rules. "They know what the expectations are," he said.
"Normally, the only people who are allowed to carry loaded weapons are law enforcement personnel," Barnes said. "Because the safety procedures are so good and in light of the large numbers of shows, an accidental discharge is quite rare."
Meanwhile, the incident has left some gun enthusiasts to ponder whether the incident will cast a pall over gun shows in general.
"Any gun is only as safe as its owner," said Sam Kremer, who, shortly after the shooting, left the event cradling two semi-automatic rifles he had hoped to sell. "It's a sad thing to have happen."
Bernie Esguerra, owner of Bernie's Sport Center in Norcross, said "the unfortunate incident" will become ammunition for "liberal people to show that guns are bad.
"Security at gun shows is tight," he said.
Hours after his son died Monday, Grant described himself as a "gun advocate" who is "not blaming the gun or the shows where they are sold.
"I blame the person" who discharged the gun, said Grant, speaking by cellphone while heading south on I-85 to Prattville, Ala., his home. "People should check every weapon they put in their hands."
McQueen, Grant's girlfriend, thanked emergency personnel and hospital staff for the job they did. She took issue, though, with the fact that the gun show continued after the shooting.
"I am very upset about that," McQueen said. "They should have shut that gun show down."
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/0702/16gunshow.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Youngster's gun show killing still a mystery
It's unclear who fired round from behind counter
By RICK BADIE and ANDREA JONES
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writers
Who did it?
Who accidentally shot 13-year-old Steven Bray King in the face Sunday at a Gwinnett County gun show? And how did it happen?
A day after the incident, a boy who loved to read and tinker with computer parts has died, and police don't know what happened.
A Gwinnett police spokesman said only two groups of people were allowed to carry loaded weapons at the Eastman Gun Show -- vendors and the security working the event at the North Atlanta Trade Center in Norcross.
But the gunshow promoter's attorney said vendors can't carry loaded weapons during any of the 32 shows put on by Matthew Eastman of Fitzgerald.
Amid the contentions, police are trying to piece together a sequence of events to explain the shooting.
"We're trying to answer two questions," Gwinnett Cpl. Ray Dunlap said Monday. "Whose gun was it? And who had control of the weapon when it was fired?"
What's known is that a bullet blasted from behind a counter pierced Steven's eye. Paramedics and a doctor worked feverishly to save the boy. They rushed him to the hospital with his father, Anthony Grant, by his side. Kathi McQueen, Grant's girlfriend, and her daughter trailed the ambulance.
Steven died at 12:10 p.m. Monday at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, 24 hours after he was shot with a .38-caliber handgun at point-blank range. His organs were being donated "to help someone else," Grant, 38, said late Monday.
Guns brought to shows by the public, as well as those on exhibit, must have plastic safety ties attached to prevent discharging. Dunlap, who used to work security for Eastman shows, said vendors are allowed to carry loaded weapons at the events.
Atlanta attorney Joseph Wargowho represents Eastman, and Mark Barnes, a lawyer for the National Association of Arms Shows, said otherwise.
Vendors sign a policy in writing that says they will not carry loaded weapons, according to rules posted on Eastman's Web site. Wargo said security personnel also are required to check vendors as well as folks who attend the show.
"It is a very unfortunate incident, " Wargo said, "but nothing at all in how the gun show was run contributed" to it. He said Eastman shows is conducting its own investigation.
Barnes, of Washington, said gun-show promoters abide by federal, state and local laws in addition to association rules. "They know what the expectations are," he said.
"Normally, the only people who are allowed to carry loaded weapons are law enforcement personnel," Barnes said. "Because the safety procedures are so good and in light of the large numbers of shows, an accidental discharge is quite rare."
Meanwhile, the incident has left some gun enthusiasts to ponder whether the incident will cast a pall over gun shows in general.
"Any gun is only as safe as its owner," said Sam Kremer, who, shortly after the shooting, left the event cradling two semi-automatic rifles he had hoped to sell. "It's a sad thing to have happen."
Bernie Esguerra, owner of Bernie's Sport Center in Norcross, said "the unfortunate incident" will become ammunition for "liberal people to show that guns are bad.
"Security at gun shows is tight," he said.
Hours after his son died Monday, Grant described himself as a "gun advocate" who is "not blaming the gun or the shows where they are sold.
"I blame the person" who discharged the gun, said Grant, speaking by cellphone while heading south on I-85 to Prattville, Ala., his home. "People should check every weapon they put in their hands."
McQueen, Grant's girlfriend, thanked emergency personnel and hospital staff for the job they did. She took issue, though, with the fact that the gun show continued after the shooting.
"I am very upset about that," McQueen said. "They should have shut that gun show down."
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/0702/16gunshow.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
This event should have never occured!
The fact that no one seen the shooter worries me. Someone is keeping quite about it and thats wrong!
I always make it a habit to be extra alert when nearing a table that sells guns and ammunition. When the crowd load gets thick it is too easy to cut the tie down,acquire ammo, and fire.
I also look to see who is around me like mideasterners and possible gang members.
Dealers who wore a gun didn't bother me much but now i think a weary eye is appropriate for this occasion also.
Surely this is a sad time for the childs parents and relatives along with those who knew him and called him friend.
This is also a sad time for gun owners in this country.
Edited by - alledan on 07/18/2002 05:15:24