Jaded
January 21st, 2009, 12:59 AM
A man in Clarksville has been charged with child abuse and neglect after police said his 3-year-old son fired a gun, narrowly missing a baby sleeping next door.
Police said Slade Williams was supposed to be watching his three children, but his child somehow got his hands on a loaded rifle.
After hearing the gunfire, neighbor Herman Johnson ran into his son Tyler's bedroom to check on him.
Police said the bullet narrowly missed Tyler's body, but the 1-year-old was covered in powder from damaged sheetrock.
The bullet had traveled through the wall from the other side of the duplex and entered the neighbor's house.
"It could have shot me. It could have shot (Tyler)," said Johnson.
How did a 3-year-old get a hold of a gun in the first place? According to Johnson, Williams told him he left the rifle sitting on the bed because he was getting ready to clean it.
Officer Jim Knoll of the Clarksville Police Department said the father had a clean police record before the incident but faces serious child neglect charges.
"This situation could have been potentially fatal," said Knoll.
Johnson said he's not angry at his neighbor but is still a little shaken up. He said his wife, who is in Afghanistan, was hysterical when she heard about what happened, but calmed down as soon as she realized her family was OK.
Williams' three children are staying with their mother while he faces charges.
http://www.wsmv.com/news/18522955/detail.html#-
Police said Slade Williams was supposed to be watching his three children, but his child somehow got his hands on a loaded rifle.
After hearing the gunfire, neighbor Herman Johnson ran into his son Tyler's bedroom to check on him.
Police said the bullet narrowly missed Tyler's body, but the 1-year-old was covered in powder from damaged sheetrock.
The bullet had traveled through the wall from the other side of the duplex and entered the neighbor's house.
"It could have shot me. It could have shot (Tyler)," said Johnson.
How did a 3-year-old get a hold of a gun in the first place? According to Johnson, Williams told him he left the rifle sitting on the bed because he was getting ready to clean it.
Officer Jim Knoll of the Clarksville Police Department said the father had a clean police record before the incident but faces serious child neglect charges.
"This situation could have been potentially fatal," said Knoll.
Johnson said he's not angry at his neighbor but is still a little shaken up. He said his wife, who is in Afghanistan, was hysterical when she heard about what happened, but calmed down as soon as she realized her family was OK.
Williams' three children are staying with their mother while he faces charges.
http://www.wsmv.com/news/18522955/detail.html#-