13 year old shot by father

[LV KIX]

This happened in the super small little town were my cabin is located. This is the second tragedy in this town involving young children in less than 2 weeks. Just last week an 11 year old girl was killed in a traffic accident about 3 miles from my cabin.

 

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Morgan County man charged with murder of 13-year-old son

By The Associated Press

The Associated Press

Advertiser

 

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. -- A 73-year-old Morgan County man who police said shot his 13-year-old son in the head because he believed the boy was shooting at him is being held without bail on a murder charge at the Eastern Regional Jail in Martinsburg.

 

The Herald Mail of Hagerstown, Md., said authorities identified the victim Monday as Andrew Butler, son of William Allan Butler.

 

William Butler told investigators he was showing his son how to shoot Saturday and was standing about 5 feet from the boy when he heard a gunshot, according to Morgan County Sheriff's Deputy C.H. Cobern.

 

In court documents, Cobern said Butler told investigators he "just knew'' his son was shooting at him, so he turned and fired back. Butler also allegedly told investigators his son was always in trouble, and acknowledged being angry with his son for frequently defying his mother.

 

Chief Deputy Tony Link said Tuesday that no court appearances have yet been scheduled for Butler, and it was unclear whether he has an attorney.

 

Link said Butler initially reported the shooting as an accident, claiming he had planned to clean his guns but first decided he'd take his son outside and teach him to shoot.

 

Further statements "led us to believe it wasn't an accident,'' Link said.

 

A 9mm semi-automatic pistol and a .38-caliber revolver were found at the scene. Butler had moved both weapons, and Link said investigators haven't yet determined which was used in the boy's death.

 

The bullet passed through the boy's head and hasn't been recovered.

 

"We looked high and low,'' Link said Tuesday. "It's hard to say, once it exited, where it went to.''

 

He said investigators might return to the family home to continue the search and identify the caliber. Fingerprint analysis also might help determine which gun fired the deadly shot.

 

An autopsy performed Monday in Morgantown determined only that the boy was shot from a range of 5 to 8 feet.

 

Link said the sheriff's department has no record of any previous problems at the home involving either the father or the son.

 

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Basically this "father" claims he shot his 13 year old son in self defense. Keep in mind this young boy had never shot a gun before and that it was the father's idea to teach him to shot. The father also claims that this boy was always in trouble. That is in no way true... Coaching both baseball and basketball in Morgan County I can tell you that this kid was never in any trouble. Great kid that was always eager to please.

 

These kind of things really make you think. So many people just take things for granted. I actually don't even remember what I was trying to explain.

 

There is a memorial being held at the school and they are bringing in specialists to help many of the kids in town with coping with both of these tragedies.

[martinsane]

Do you want to go give the father a good shake and ask him what the fuck???

[Nick C]

Do you want to go give the father a good shake and ask him what the fuck???

 

More than a shake.....the guy has taken what wasn't his to take and from what Dave says the poor kid is trying to be given a bad rep by his pr*ck of a father now he can't answer for himself to try and get himself (the father) off the hook.

"Cobern said Butler told investigators he 'just knew' his son was shooting at him, so he turned and fired back" ....from 5 feet away..get outta town lying scumbag, from 5 feet even if the kid was crosseyed and had never held a gun you'd hit him. If the child was shooting at him then were is the evidence? Surely there'd be marks in whatever the missed bullets hit?

[LV KIX]

Do you want to go give the father a good shake and ask him what the fuck???

 

More than a shake.....the guy has taken what wasn't his to take and from what Dave says the poor kid is trying to be given a bad rep by his pr*ck of a father now he can't answer for himself to try and get himself (the father) off the hook.

"Cobern said Butler told investigators he 'just knew' his son was shooting at him, so he turned and fired back" ....from 5 feet away..get outta town lying scumbag, from 5 feet even if the kid was crosseyed and had never held a gun you'd hit him. If the child was shooting at him then were is the evidence? Surely there'd be marks in whatever the missed bullets hit?

 

 

My thoughs exactly. At five feet the kid could have hit the "father" if he had tried. And if the "Fathers" back was turned the boy could have taken 4 step up closer to the "father" to shoot him. This "father" better hope he is locked away for life if he wants to live at all. The whole town is in an outrage... and trust me, 90% or the population in Berkeley Springs owns guns. I'd be begging for a life sentence if I was that guy.

 

Know what is really sad... the soccer team that the boy played on was out all over town trying to raise money so that this boy could have a grave marker.

[cdjunky41]

Wow!

He had the kid when he was 60?