Father charged in connection with river shooting

[mountain_cowboy]

http://www.reflector.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/03/15/20060315GDRshooting.html

By Erin Rickert, The Daily Reflector

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

The father of a Vanceboro teenager accused of shooting a Pitt County man Sunday was arrested by authorities on charges he helped contribute to the delinquency of a minor.

Donald Taylor, 41, of 117 Turkey Ridge, Vanceboro, was arrested Sunday after his son allegedly shot 24-year-old Brandon Hardison as he fished on the Neuse River with his grandfather about 25 miles from Greenville, Kenny Wade, a Craven County Sheriff's Office investigator, said. Taylor has since posted bond and has been released from jail.

Wade said charges against Taylor's 13-year-old son are pending, but the teen has shown remorse for his actions. The teenager was not identified because of his age.

Hardison, who was airlifted by EastCare to Pitt County Memorial Hospital, was treated and released from the hospital Sunday night.

Wade said Taylor's son was target practicing as the family grilled at a campsite near the river, Pitch Kettle Boat Landing, about 6:30 p.m.

After firing a few shots, Taylor and the teenager repositioned a plywood target the boy was using to face the water, Wade said.

The teenager shot the .22-caliber rifle and missed the plywood, striking Hardison who stood about 150 yards away in his boat on the Neuse River, Wade said.

The teenager heard Hardison yell as the single bullet struck him in the right thigh and traveled into his left thigh, Wade said.

The boy told his father he thought he accidentally shot someone, and Taylor called 911, Wade said.

Deputies said they detected a strong odor of alcohol on Taylor's breath, Wade said.

Taylor said he consumed about seven beers and tests allegedly revealed he was drunk, Wade said. He was then arrested and charged with the misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor, he said.

An investigation is ongoing, Wade said Tuesday.

 

[One of Many]

When did an accident involving a minor, caused by ignorance of the minor and the drunkeness of someone else (an adult), become delinquency of a minor?

The father should be arrested for drunken possession of a firearm, and negligent endangerment. The minor was not delinquent. He was engaged in a legal action in questionable circumstances, and he missed his intended target. The father failed to teach his son the basic rules of gun safety.

 

[TF_FH]

The father should be arrested for drunken possession of a firearm

Why should he be charged with drunken possession of a firearm? I don't recall it saying that the father was holding the gun at all.

 

[rdbrowning]

"Why should he be charged with drunken possession of a firearm? I don't recall it saying that the father was holding the gun at all."

Because the minor can't be in posession of a firearm. It is the adult's responsibility with the minor supposedly under the control of the adult. The adult is responsible, especially when the idiot is ir-responsible.

 

[hso]

The parent is liable since the minor child can not be liable, especially when the parent is present and contributing to the actions of the minor child. That said they probably made the wrong charge and should have charged the parent with reckless endangerment.

Reckless endangerment.

(a) A person commits the crime of reckless endangerment if he recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person.

Pitty the kid didn't have a father with enough brains to teach junior firearms safety. Pitty the kid wasn't smart enough to know that the plywood wouldn't stop the rounds anyway.

 

[JohnBT]

"Taylor and the teenager repositioned a plywood target the boy was using to face the water, Wade said."

I'll bet a dime the target was facing away from the river. If it had been facing the river the shooter couldn't have seen it. I demand accuracy in reporting. Maybe he meant the target was positioned so the shooter was facing the river. I know, picky, picky, picky.

John

 

[Christina21]

Correction to some facts

Okay, just to correct some of these facts. The victim, Brandon Hardison, is my significant other, and when we read this, we were somewhat upset.

Brandon isn't from Pitt County, he is from Beaufort County.

He was also shot TWICE. One bullet skimmed his arm, and the other did go through his right thigh and into his left.

As far as remorse for actions...there has been no sincere attempt to show any empathy at all whatsoever. What has been said was the father didn't want any charges filed against him and after he found out his unsincere appology wasn't going to free him of a suite, he began badmouthing Brandon and is still trying to fight him on paying for his medical expenses.

The father is also not allowed to have any alcohol in his possession for 5 years.

Brandon is still dealing with pain from this incident. He has been in excruciating pain. He still has the bullet in his leg and has tried to put off the surgery for as long as possible due to paying out of pocket until the settlement is done. But it has gotten so bad he cannot wait any longer, he is in the process of scheduling the surgery.

It is unfortunate that minding your own business trying to enjoy a hobby of yours, can result in being shot and further more, the guilty not stepping up and doing the honorable thing.

 

[canopy2k]

It is unfortunate that minding your own business trying to enjoy a hobby of yours, can result in being shot and further more, the guilty not stepping up and doing the honorable thing.

+1

Accidents will happen, and the father and son should be EXTREMELY apologetic (not that this necessarily qualifies as an accident...). Thanks for you insight, I hope you stick around. You might find you like it here!

c2k

 

[RKBABob]

Christina21, I hope your significant other makes a full and speedy recovery

Yes, this Taylor guy is 100% liable for his son's actions, and should step up to the plate and make restitution... failure to do so is reprehensible beyond words.

I still feel as though I don't fully understand the situation.... but I won't hound you for details.

We pride ourselves on being responsible gun owners here. Feel free to stick around. If you tire of this thread (its probably a sore subject in your home already), check out our other threads. We discuss everything from politics, self-defense, woman gun owners, and especially firearms safety... maybe you'll find something that interests you.

 

[cassandrasdaddy]

not sure of that state but he didn't endanger the kid he provided the tools and lack of supervision that allowed the kid to screw up. and if as we've been told dad was not allowed possesion of alcohol dads a serial screw up.

 

[RoadkingLarry]

Another prime example of a need to institute public caning! The drunken dad needs a bout 40 swats on a bare backside and of course needs to pay full resitution to the poor guy that was the victim of their stupidity, including all medical expenses and lost wages and some serious green for being stupid.

 

[siglite]

I realize this is going to sound crass and uncaring in light that the victim's S/O has made an appearance in this thread. However, the first thought I had after reading the article is that teaching "Know your target and what is beyond" in the school system may well have mitigated the glaring negligence of the father.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

but he didn't endanger the kid

Don't recall in the original post or Christina21's correction any mention of an endangerment to the kid. He sure did contribute to the endangerment to others though by being drunk and not providing proper supervision to this 13y/o son with the firearm!

 

[BobbyQuickdraw]

Again depending on the State the child using the gun or even owning the gun might not be a crime. Most laws are against purchasing, not owning.

Obviously the dad here is not a real winner, being drunk and apparently on probation if he's not supposed to be drinking.

While this is obviously a terrible situation, I'm not entirely sure the charges are accurate, depending on the gun ownership status. Either way, the dad seems to have violated probation and someone acted negligently.

Speedy recovery to the injured party.

 

[1911Tuner]

Taylor is liable....legally, morally, and financially. He should man up and do the right thing. He should also be horsewhipped for being drunk when he handed his 13 year-old son a loaded gun.

Christina...My hopes for a complete and speedy recovery for Brandon. Please tell him that Donald Taylor isn't any sort of representative of the shooting fraternity.

 

[Cougfan2]

Christina21, I hope your SO has a speedy and full recovery.

 

[WaltonS]

Without quoting everyone I want to respond to here...
The kid, though he really should have known better, is not actually at fault. I think this experience alone is enough to teach him a valuable lesson.
Next: The dad shoulda known better too, but alcohol has that effect on some people. Now, I highly doubt the kid owned the rifle, and aren't the parents/guardians/supervisors/adults technically held liable when a minor is handling a gun under their care? If he did own it, why'd he need his dad there?
And lastly, through one thigh and into the other? That'll show people that .22s aren't as negligible as they think. I knew a guy who called a .22 a "glorified BB gun."

 

[dralarms]

Shoot, I was born in New Bern and grew up in Vanceboro, that's my family's old "stomping ground". No comment on the shooting other than you are supposed to make sure of your backstop before shooting (and a piece of plywood is not a good backstop, especially when there is people behind it. Dufus's.:banghead:

 

[RPCVYemen]

The victim, Brandon Hardison, is my significant other, and when we read this, we were somewhat upset.

I pray for his speedy recovery.

The unfortunate truth is that there are a lot of people like Donald Taylor out there - we shouldn't kid ourselves.

I have a friend who bought land in the woods a long time ago. He was friendly to hunters at first, as he understood the value of culling. But after having everything - other than his house - on his property shot up season after season, he posted "No Hunting" signs. Dogs, tractors, outdoor lights, sculptures his wife made, etc. It didn't matter - if it was in the woods during hunting season, it was used for target practice. He had to board his horses off his property during hunting season. Unfortunately, you cannot post "Responsible Hunters Only".

Of course you know what he heard when he encountered drunk "hunters" on his property, "You can't tell us not to hunt here. We've been hunting here for generations." Well he didn't hear exactly that - he heard the drunk Hoosierese version of that.

In most sports, the ration of responsible to irresponsible practitioners is alleged 95% to 5%. Unfortunately, in our sport, I think it's close to the opposite.

I grew up shooting at the Issac Walton League, where everyone who shot seemed to know and follow the NRA safety rules. I thought everyone did. Then I went out into the real world, and found out that almost no one did.

Mike

 

[woodybrighton]

mans an idiot

 

[Scorpiusdeus]

Christina21: I hope he makes a speedy recovery. I'm sorry for the actions of this boy and his father and more sorry that the father couldn't do the right thing.

As a shooter, I take these type of situations very seriously. All of us, as shooters, and or hunters, should be first in line to condemn this idiot father. The boy has fault in this, but not as much as his father did. I'll hope he's made to pay the max for this.

 

[.45&TKD]

RPCVYemen,

I have not yet gone hunting, but hope to some time in the future.

I hope it is not as bad as you descirbe. Are there any regional factors?

 

[Halffast]

Christina,

I hope your husband has a speedy and full recovery and that he is compensated fairly for the expenses and pain this event caused. Please don't judge all gun owners from this event.

I also have to wonder, based on the article if the kid really missed. The story said he missed the plywood backstop and struck your husband. If that is true, then I find it hard to believe that he struck your husband twice.

It is more logical to assume that he shot the center of the target and the backstop out and your husband's boat floated to where he was in a direct line, or (and I hope not) the kid was intentionally shooting at your husband. It would take two very (un)lucky misses to strike a person twice at 150 yards.

This might be something you want to discuss with your lawyer.

God bless,

David

PS - Please check your Private Messages.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Taylor is liable....legally, morally, and financially. He should man up and do the right thing. He should also be horsewhipped for being drunk when he handed his 13 year-old son a loaded gun.

Christina...My hopes for a complete and speedy recovery for Brandon. Please tell him that Donald Taylor isn't any sort of representative of the shooting fraternity.

Christina, I second what 1911Tuner wrote.

What I find both repugnant and incomprehensible is your report that Taylor is now bad-mouthing your SO. It's a classic example of being in complete, total denial (which, of course, is not atypical of people who have an affinity for the grape). While I cannot and do not condone the violations of all rules of firearms safety that led to shooting in a direction where there were PEOPLE, I can understand how an ignoramus might do that.

What I cannot understand is trying to weasel out of responsibility. I can't imagine that I might ever find myself in Taylor's situation (please, God!), but if I were I believe I would be falling all over myself begging Brandon to let me pay for his medical expenses. What other choice could there be for a MAN? When a MAN is responsible for creating a problem, a MAN accepts responsibility for making it as right as he can make it.

Mr. Taylor sounds like a finalist for scumbag of the year, IMHO.

 

[mgregg85]

why in hell would you purposefully shoot into water?