ST. DAVID, Ariz. (TCD) — An 8-year-old boy died in the hospital this week after he was reportedly shot with an air rifle.
According to a news release from the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday, Dec. 18, shortly after 5 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of Pottery Lane. Once there, deputies found an 8-year-old boy, identified by KGUN-TV as Bradley John, and learned he “had been shot in the center of his chest cavity with a high powered air rifle that shoots 22 caliber pellets.”
Officials performed emergency procedures at the scene but eventually transported the boy to Benson Hospital for emergency care, where he later died at around 6 p.m.
The victim’s family told KOLD-TV the shooting was an accident. John allegedly rode on the back of a friend’s quad in a target practice area. The family reportedly said the boy was told not to be in the location.
The investigation is ongoing.
MORE:
- Sheriff’s Office Investigates St. David Shooting Incident – Cochise County Sheriff’s Office
- Family releases name and photos of 8-year-old killed by air rifle in St. David – KGUN
- Southern Arizona family mourns young boy killed by high-powered air rifle – KOLD
TRUE CRIME DAILY: THE PODCAST covers high-profile and under-the-radar cases every week. Subscribe to our YouTube page and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can also subscribe to our True Crime Daily newsletter.