Stray Bullet Strikes Pregnant Woman In Side On Neville Island

[BigMike]

http://www.wpxi.com/news/17081796/detail.html
Be sure to watch the video.

Stray Bullet Strikes Pregnant Woman In Side On Neville Island

POSTED: 7:35 pm EDT August 3, 2008
UPDATED: 3:03 pm EDT August 4, 2008

NEVILLE ISLAND, Pa. -- A pregnant woman was recovering Sunday night after being struck by a stray bullet while riding her motorcycle on Neville Island.

Alisa Musser was shot in the torso by a stray bullet while riding on a motorcycle with her friend. The two were at the Interstate 79 off-ramp on Neville Island when Musser felt a sharp pain in her abdomen.

When Musser got to her friend's house a couple blocks away, she realized that she was bleeding from her side.

She went to a Pittsburgh-area hospital, where the doctor told her what she had been hit with a bullet.

Musser said she thinks the shooting was an accident and that the bullet came from an area where a rifle range is located.

The doctor told Musser that her baby is OK. Had the bullet struck several inches closer to her stomach, however, it might have been a different story.

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MY COMMENTS:
Although not mentioned in the article, I'm wondering if the bullet came from the range at the Coraopolis Sportsmens Association. That's the only range I know of that is close enough. It's about a mile as the crow flies. I'm a member and just shot a few handguns there last week. Until looking at Google Maps I never realized the range does point towards Neville Island and I-79.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...h&z=16&iwloc=A

[HiredGoon]

Update:

Charges reduced in shooting of pregnant woman
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Associated Press

Prosecutors have reduced a charge against a man who fired a rifle into the air, wounding a pregnant woman more than a mile away.

Allegheny County prosecutors reduced an aggravated assault charge to simple assault against 47-year-old Martin Patterson of Ambridge. He fired the shot over a 70-foot-high wall of rock and brush at a gun club in suburban Pittsburgh on Aug. 2.

The .223-caliber bullet pierced the rib cage of 27-year-old Alisa Musser, of Pittsburgh, who was a motorcycle passenger. Police determined the bullet traveled about 1.6 miles before hitting Musser.

Ms. Musser gave birth to a healthy daughter on Jan. 19 and has recovered from the wound.

Mr. Patterson has apologized and will stand trial on the assault charge and a charge of reckless endangerment.

[eXceLon]

I remember seeing this on the news back after it originally happened.

I'd be interested in hearing what the exact circumstances were that caused him to fire over a 70ft tall berm. My guess is negligence or recklessness, but every report I've seen has been extremely light on details. There was some speculation on the news that alcohol may have been involved, but I don't know if there was any accuracy to that.

[MichaelJ]

I'm not making light of his actions- I'm responsible for every round I fire, and everyone should feel the same way.

That being said- I can assume this range sees hundreds of firearms a week. So without a database, without a registration system, without ammuntion coding, a mere mortal of a detective was able to locate and positively ID the person who fired the round from over a mile away.

It underscores the futility of these systems, because without a responsible firearm owner cooperating with the detective, it would have not happened.

[PureRockFury]

I wonder how common stray bullet strikes are.

[knight0334]

70ft berm? jesus! You damn near have to be intentionally aiming high to do that.

I dont think even in my rainbow arc while shooting 1000 or 1500 yards with my 45-70's and 45-120 would I exceed 70ft at the apex.

[camper]

Why is a pregnant woman riding a motorcycle?

camper

[PureRockFury]

Why is a pregnant woman riding a motorcycle?

camper

with a "friend" no less.

[vic2367]

Why is a pregnant woman riding a motorcycle?

camper

was wondering the same thing

[DaveM55]

I'm a member at the club in question here. The length of the range is only 100 meters then there's a small creek and yes a 70 foot wall of rock. On top of that wall of rock is a power utility pole with a couple holes in it. I have looked at it with a spotting scope and noticed several bullet holes in it. Seems there are some morons who thinks it fun to try and shoot it. The guy charged and found guilty with this crime was probably doing just that. Yeah he's no longer a member there.