Who is Michael Gardner? Texas grandfather arrested for errantly shooting 12-year-old grandson while officiating a wedding
ODESSA, TEXAS: Michael Gardner who was about to officiate a wedding accidentally shot his young grandson in the shoulder in Denton, Nebraska.
According to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, the 62-year-old man from Odessa, Texas, was at the nuptials at Hillside Events in Denton on Saturday, September 30 when he errantly shot his 12-year-old grandson as he fired a blank round from his revolver into the air, reports People.
Why did Michael Gardner open fire at the wedding?
During a press conference held on Monday, October 2, Deputy Ben Houchin said the Texas man was trying to "gain everybody’s attention" after the wedding encountered delays because "somebody forgot the rings."
The deputy noted that the weapon used was a Pietta 1860 snub nose revolver. The blank round had black powder filled inside the casing with glue.
"When he decided to cock back the hammer of this revolver, it slipped and it shot his grandson in the left shoulder, causing an injury," said Houchin.
He added that the teenager was in close proximity to his grandfather at the time. "What we believe is the glue is what injured the child," said the deputy.
What are the charges against Michael Gardner?
Following the incident, Gardner's grandson was taken to a nearby hospital. For "further treatment" of his non-life-threatening wounds, he was later shifted to another hospital in Omaha.
"We do have the weapon, the ammunition, and the spent casing,” Houchin said.
Houchin stated that Gardner was arrested on Monday after he turned himself in. He has been taken into custody on suspicion of felony child abuse due to the "seriousness" of the child's injuries, according to his statement at the press conference.
"What the county attorney decides to charge him with is up to him," the deputy said. He further added that the incident falls under the statute of child abuse.
"It’s just kind of neglectful to take a gun out that has blanks and fire it amongst people. Playing with firearms, no matter what, [even] if they’re blanks, bad things can certainly happen," said Houchin.
"We do not believe Michael intended to hurt his grandchild. But the act was not very smart," he added, according to New York Post.
As the investigation into the family wedding turned tragic incident unfolds, questions regarding the legal ramifications of the case and the well-being of the injured teenage boy continue to weigh heavily on the community.