Two Young People Accidentally Shot During Intentional Gun Incidents

Two people were killed today in incidents that fall in the complicated legal gray area between intentional and unintentional. 

A Mercedes, Texas kidnapping incident turned fatal when one of the kidnappers struck the head of the intended victim with the butt of a rifle. The gun fired and struck and killed another of the kidnappers who was standing nearby.  Several people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

And in Opa Locka, Florida, Keon Martavious Thornhill, a 19-year-old man, was arguing with his 14-year-old sister when his gun unintentionally went off.  He initially told police that he handed the gun to his sister and that she had shot herself. According to the report, the children’s parents did not know there was a gun in the home.

Sources:

Xavier Alvarez, “New Details Reveal How Thursday Mercedes Attempted Kidnapping Turned Fatal,” myrgv.com (February 25, 2023).

Roy Ramos, Andrea Torres, Annaliese Garcia, “‘It Was a Mistake’: Man, 19, Confesses to Fatally Shooting 14-year-old Sister in Opa-Locka,” local10.com (February 24, 2023).