Cop shoots at snake, kills boy, 5

[KeithPA]

NOBLE, Oklahoma (AP) -- A police officer shooting at a snake apparently killed a 5-year-old boy who was fishing at a nearby pond, officials said.

Jack Tracy was fishing with his grandson when a bulllet fired by a police officer struck the boy in the head.

Austin Haley was fishing with his grandfather, Jack Tracy, when Tracy said he heard a shot and saw something hit the water just a few feet in front of the boat dock where he was standing.

Moments later, a second shot hit Austin in the head.

A Noble police officer who had responded to a report of a snake in a tree apparently fired the deadly shot while trying to kill the snake on Friday, City Manager Bob Wade said.

"I was told that they tried several ways to get the snake down, but it was still hissing at them and firmly lodged," Wade said. "What I was told is that the owner of the home either suggested or agreed that they should go ahead and shoot the snake, and then everything happened from there."

Tracy thought someone must be trying to kill him and his grandson, so he put the child on the back of a 4-wheeler and drove to his daughter's house about 200 yards away.

"Then two officers came out of the brush over there," he told The Oklahoman. "They didn't tell us they were the ones who had been shooting or that they had shot him. They didn't admit a doggone thing."

The boy was pronounced dead at an Oklahoma City hospital, about 25 miles north of Noble.

Wade refused to identify the officer but said the person had been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

"This is so bizarre it has to be fully investigated," he said. "We're pretty sure circumstantially that it is the bullet from the police officer's gun, but it might be a bullet from someone else."

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Jessica Brown said a state investigation was under way, though it appeared the fatal shot had been fired by the officer.

Tracy has little doubt. "I'm not saying the cop shot him on purpose," he said. "But let me tell you -- if I had a kid and put him in this car and didn't put him in a car seat and he got killed on the way to town, they'd charge me with murder ... and what this cop did is a lot worse than that."

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/08/06/boy.killed.ap/

Pure genius, shoot into a tree.

[billamj]

This is a very sad reminder that everyone needs to be sure of their back stop. When I read the original story on one of the news sites the first question that came to my mine was why he wasn't positive that this round(s) would be heading in a safe direction? Now this poor boys family has to pay the price for the cop not using his head.

[XD45]

what a stupid mistake, thats gonna ruin not only the families lives, but that cops lives and possibly his family.. all over a stupid stupid mistake. people gotta use their head

[ChamberedRound]

Originally Posted by XD45

what a stupid mistake, thats gonna ruin not only the families lives, but that cops lives and possibly his family.. all over a stupid stupid mistake. people gotta use their head

This isn't going to ruin the cops life as much as it should. That LEO was ignorant and irresponsible in the use of his firearm, and should be punished just as any other citizen would be, i.e. to the fullest extent of the law. Instead, the Blue Wall of Silence is already going up... the guy was put on paid administrative leave, but no charges have yet been filed?

I completely agree with the grandfather's statement: any other citizen who acted carelessly would be held responsible. This person shouldn't be held LESS responsible simply because he carries a badge.

[LorDiego01]

paid administrative leave

"Good Shot Johnny! Now go on vacation. You've earned it."

Really now.. if this happens to a civilian, Im sure they'd see a jail within hours, and being branded a child killer and what not..

[RocketFoot]

Wait until PETA gets wind of this...he'll never see the light of day for shooting at a harmless snake!

[axmdr40]

This is disgusting...the LEO should be at least charged with manslaughter.

[WhiteFeather]

Originally Posted by ChamberedRound

This isn't going to ruin the cops life as much as it should. That LEO was ignorant and irresponsible in the use of his firearm, and should be punished just as any other citizen would be, i.e. to the fullest extent of the law. Instead, the Blue Wall of Silence is already going up... the guy was put on paid administrative leave, but no charges have yet been filed?

I completely agree with the grandfather's statement: any other citizen who acted carelessly would be held responsible. This person shouldn't be held LESS responsible simply because he carries a badge.

ChamberedRound
I disagree with you on one small account, the police should be held to a higher standard than the average citizen should in this case- police officer life was not imminent threaten by a snake in a tree, how many thousands of tax money was spent on his training to be responsible with lethal force or discharging firearm. .

You are 100% correct that the police officer will not be held accountable; to even the same minimum level a citizen would be for committing the same stupid act. What about the other cop, did cop attempt to warn fellow officer and say hey that snake is in a tree where is the bullet going if you miss? Is other officer going to fess up the truth or cover up with a lie? An innocent child is dead, someone should pay, if this was around a gun club wouldn’t you hear calls to shut that club down? Or if this was in Philly and no cop involved, wouldn’t the anti-gun crowd use this for a reason to take gun away? Yes, this cop will get a pass for involuntary manslaughter and taking of an innocent child life, some ordinary citizen would get jail time this cop gets a paid vacation to take administrate leave, and probably will skate over this.

Was this even a poisonous snake? Over the years caught lots of snakes in PA even had a permit(s) to harvest timber rattle snakes - never had shoot one, got scared by quite of few of them appearing out of now where over the years……..

Police had to shoot a snake in a tree give me a break, cop didn’t even had jurisdiction to act, should have called the DEP or what ever agency handles the wildlife problem in that state.

Really sad story, parents are probability devastated by this tragedy by irresponsible use of firearms by a police that was trained to know better. Hope they throw the book at cop, and spend some time in jail to think about it.

[MarcS]

This was not a stupid mistake, it was gross negligence. Shooting at a snake in a tree = shooting in the air. The officer should be charged the same as any idiot who shoots his gun in the air on the fourth of july and kills someone.

As there was no immediate threat to the officer from the snake, i'd say this qualifies as reckless or grossly negligent. Generally that's involuntary manslaughter. in this state, up to 5 years in prison.

[dnar]

The father of the little boy said that he really loved God, and that's exactly where he is right now in the arms of another loving "Father in Heaven!"