Benjamin Epperly

Man Accidentally Shot in the Ear While Leaving the Scene of a Robbery Benjamin Epperly was shot in the ear as he tried to drive away in his car with items he stole from a Tulsa, Oklahoma store. Store employees, and the owner who had a gun, tried to detain him when the owner’s gun …

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020

Two teenagers were shot to death today by others in incidents that involved playing with a gun.

In Tamaqua, a borough in Eastern Pennsylvania, Eric Tavener was shot and killed accidentally by 21-year old Francis Witmayer. Witnesses said that Tavener, an 18-year old, was playing with a gun when he was asked to return it by its owner, Witmayer. After taking the gun back, the gun fired as Witmayer attempted to disassemble it. The round struck Tavener in the chest. Witmayer was taken into custody without incident.

In Hazelwood, Missouri, outside St. Louis, an unidentified 15-year old boy was accidentally shot and killed by Timothy Nguyen, an 18-year old who was playing with a gun. Nguyen was reportedly loading and unloading the gun at the time of the accident. He was charged with first degree manslaughter.

Sources:

Kayla Dwyer, “Tamaqua Man, 18, Dies After he is Shot in the Chest by Man Disassembling Gun, Police Say,” The Morning Call (February 28, 2020).

“Teen Charged with the Deadly Shooting of a 15-year-old,” KMOV 4 (February 28, 2020).

Shattered – The Gun Accident Journal

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