Boy, 14, hurt as friend trips, fires handgun accidentally

7/17/2004

FREMONT - A 14-year-old Sandusky County boy was wounded Thursday night when his friend tripped and accidentally fired a bullet from a 22-caliber handgun into his abdomen, authorities said.

Dane Santos remained in serious condition yesterday at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, said Detective Capt. William Kaiser of the Sandusky County sheriff's department.

The 14-year-old boy who shot the gun had received it from his mother, who gave it to him because she feared for her family's safety, Captain Kaiser said.

The youth was not given ammunition, but the two boys found ammunition in the garage and loaded the gun, even though Captain Kaiser said the gun didn't have the proper clip to hold in the bullets.

The two then went outside and were running around the backyard when the boy tripped and fell and the gun discharged.

"It's kind of like running with a pencil in school," Captain Kaiser said.

He said the boy's brother and several other family members were home at the time of the incident. Young Santos was taken from his friend's home to the hospital via air ambulance.

Captain Kaiser and County Prosecutor Thomas Stierwalt decided against pursuing any criminal charges against the boy or his mother.

The captain said the case was being treated as an accident.