Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:23:00
Local Teen Recovering From Gunshot
Ranger Wilcoxson, a Wills Point Junior High student, was hospitalized Saturday night after being shot during a pool party.
The incident occurred just after 6 p.m. off Farm-to-Market 751 north of Wills Point.
Family members declined to comment on the incident or Ranger’s condition, other than to say he has a “long recovery.”
Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Sam Mayer said his office received a call that a juvenile had been shot “somewhere in the upper torso of the body.”
Mayer explained that the teen, along with other juveniles had gathered at their coach’s house for a Labor Day gathering.
“This barn the children were in was hit more than once by stray bullets,” Van Zandt County Sheriff R.P. “Pat” Burnett Jr. said. “They were playing pool at a pool table in a game room and he (the victim) was about to make a pool shot when he was hit.”
“The residence where the shot was fired from was on County Road 3803, where they were having a Labor Day gathering as well,” Mayer said.
Although there were some trees, Mayer said he estimates a quarter of a mile distance between the two properties.
“There were four adults and one juvenile out shooting. They had three different weapons out and all five were shooting,” Mayer continued.
Mayer said it was hard to tell whether the five were shooting in the direction of the house based on the information he was given at the scene.
“I think they believed they were shooting in a safe manner, but unfortunately they were not,” he added.
Mayer said the two rifles were seized at the scene for evidence.
“This was not an intentional act,” Burnett added.
“I don’t know if these were ricochets or what, but ultimately you are responsible,” Burnett added.
Burnett interjected that he grew up hunting in most of the areas around Wills Point as a kid, which he said is not something that can be done anymore.
“If you are going to shoot a gun, you have to know where that bullet is going to go,” Burnett said. “These could have been ricochets. There are all kinds of things that could have happened here, but you have got to know where that bullet is going to go.”
Burnett offered these tips for gun owners:
-Know your weapon
-Know the distance the bullet is going to travel
-Know the distance the bullet is going to travel if it ricochets
-Know what is in your area in that distance
Wills Point Chief of Police Scott Johnson said that this was a time of year that everyone should pay close attention to firearm safety.
“We’re getting into hunting season and people are getting their guns out and sighting in their scopes,” Johnson said. “It’s not illegal to discharge a firearm out in the county, but people could still be held liable, either criminally or civilly.
“The best thing to do is to go to a gun range, or at least make sure there is an embankment behind your target,” Johnson added. “You have to be aware of ricochets, and you have to know what is around you or beyond the trees.”
“The best thing to do is go to a gun range,” the sheriff added.
Burnett said this is not the first time where someone has been shot by stray bullets.
“We are too populated to just go shoot where you want to shoot,” he added. “You have to shoot with knowledge.”
The shooting is still being investigated by the sheriff’s office and Texas Rangers.
“Anytime you have a juvenile shot like this, you need as many eyes and ears as you possibly can and different perspectives,” Burnett said.
Altogether there were two sheriff’s office investigators, three deputies, the Texas Rangers, and Wills Point Police who assisted.
“We do not believe this was an intentional act,” Burnett reiterated. “We are just very, very lucky this isn’t a tragic event, as bad as it is. We are fortunate no one is dead and that is the number one thing.”
Wills Point superintendent of schools Joe Oliver said that the thoughts and prayers of the school administration are with Ranger and his family.
“Our heart definitely goes out to the family, and we’re praying for a full recovery,” Oliver said. “Our counselors are always available to students that feel the need to talk about difficult situations, and our teachers are sensitive to those situations.”
Mayer said he plans to visit with the District Attorney’s office to see what direction the case needs to go, which will happen at a later date.
The investigation is ongoing.
The incident occurred just after 6 p.m. off Farm-to-Market 751 north of Wills Point.
Family members declined to comment on the incident or Ranger’s condition, other than to say he has a “long recovery.”
Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Sam Mayer said his office received a call that a juvenile had been shot “somewhere in the upper torso of the body.”
Mayer explained that the teen, along with other juveniles had gathered at their coach’s house for a Labor Day gathering.
“This barn the children were in was hit more than once by stray bullets,” Van Zandt County Sheriff R.P. “Pat” Burnett Jr. said. “They were playing pool at a pool table in a game room and he (the victim) was about to make a pool shot when he was hit.”
“The residence where the shot was fired from was on County Road 3803, where they were having a Labor Day gathering as well,” Mayer said.
Although there were some trees, Mayer said he estimates a quarter of a mile distance between the two properties.
“There were four adults and one juvenile out shooting. They had three different weapons out and all five were shooting,” Mayer continued.
Mayer said it was hard to tell whether the five were shooting in the direction of the house based on the information he was given at the scene.
“I think they believed they were shooting in a safe manner, but unfortunately they were not,” he added.
Mayer said the two rifles were seized at the scene for evidence.
“This was not an intentional act,” Burnett added.
“I don’t know if these were ricochets or what, but ultimately you are responsible,” Burnett added.
Burnett interjected that he grew up hunting in most of the areas around Wills Point as a kid, which he said is not something that can be done anymore.
“If you are going to shoot a gun, you have to know where that bullet is going to go,” Burnett said. “These could have been ricochets. There are all kinds of things that could have happened here, but you have got to know where that bullet is going to go.”
Burnett offered these tips for gun owners:
-Know your weapon
-Know the distance the bullet is going to travel
-Know the distance the bullet is going to travel if it ricochets
-Know what is in your area in that distance
Wills Point Chief of Police Scott Johnson said that this was a time of year that everyone should pay close attention to firearm safety.
“We’re getting into hunting season and people are getting their guns out and sighting in their scopes,” Johnson said. “It’s not illegal to discharge a firearm out in the county, but people could still be held liable, either criminally or civilly.
“The best thing to do is to go to a gun range, or at least make sure there is an embankment behind your target,” Johnson added. “You have to be aware of ricochets, and you have to know what is around you or beyond the trees.”
“The best thing to do is go to a gun range,” the sheriff added.
Burnett said this is not the first time where someone has been shot by stray bullets.
“We are too populated to just go shoot where you want to shoot,” he added. “You have to shoot with knowledge.”
The shooting is still being investigated by the sheriff’s office and Texas Rangers.
“Anytime you have a juvenile shot like this, you need as many eyes and ears as you possibly can and different perspectives,” Burnett said.
Altogether there were two sheriff’s office investigators, three deputies, the Texas Rangers, and Wills Point Police who assisted.
“We do not believe this was an intentional act,” Burnett reiterated. “We are just very, very lucky this isn’t a tragic event, as bad as it is. We are fortunate no one is dead and that is the number one thing.”
Wills Point superintendent of schools Joe Oliver said that the thoughts and prayers of the school administration are with Ranger and his family.
“Our heart definitely goes out to the family, and we’re praying for a full recovery,” Oliver said. “Our counselors are always available to students that feel the need to talk about difficult situations, and our teachers are sensitive to those situations.”
Mayer said he plans to visit with the District Attorney’s office to see what direction the case needs to go, which will happen at a later date.
The investigation is ongoing.