Boy killed by bullet 'fired three miles away'

[Aries]

By Paul Thompson
Published: 7:11PM GMT 03 Jan 2010

Marquel Peters was seated with his parents inside a church in Decatur, Georgia, when a bullet came through the roof and struck his head. The toddler collapsed at the feet of his parents, who had no idea what caused a gaping wound in his head.

It was only after doctors removed the bullet as they tried in vain to save his life that they realised he had been shot.

Kelly Fite, a former ballistics expert at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's state Crime Lab, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper that the bullet had most likely been fired from an AK-47 assault rifle.

The shooter could have been as much as two to three miles away, Fite told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. But most likely, the shooter was about a half mile away and the gun was tilted at about 30 or 40 degrees, not straight up, he said.

It is not uncommon – though illegal -- for guns to be fired to mark the start of a new year, he said.

The boy's mother called for the shooter to come forward, but Mr Fite said it was unlikely that the person knew what had happened.
Experts are examining the bullet to see if it can be matched to a gun on their database.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6927917/Boy-killed-by-bullet-fired-three-miles-away.html

[Mr.Skellington]

That's a shame. No one expects something like that to happen in a church. The parents will likely need some major counseling after losing their child to a freak accident inside of a church.

The boy's mother called for the shooter to come forward,...

Buy a lottery ticket, you've got a better chance of that happening.

[dave_in_delaware]

No one expects anything like that to happen to their child anywhere, ever. The fact that it happened in a church is irrelevant.

you would think that most people would know that firing their guns into the air is a huge no-no.

[Mr.Skellington]

Just sayin, a church is like a sanctuary to some people. To think that this could be done in the 'house of the lord' without his approval/knowledge might make the parents question their faith and lead to another layer of counseling.

Not everyone will accept the old adage that 'the lord works in mysterious ways'.

[dave_in_delaware]

Oh, yeah. I know what you're saying. No argument here.

But keep in mind: some criminals will purposely target a church BECAUSE it's a church, or they think churchgoers won't defend themselves. Personally, I carry IN church, and the pastor knows it.

I know that's not what this thread is about. I'm just saying that crime can happen anywhere, to anyone, at any time.

[Jeepflexin]

Man what a crappy way to ring in the new year. Just goes to show you never know where when or how so you better enjoy what you get. I agree with Mr S. happening in a church will make it an even harder thing to get past for the parents. Most parents that lose a child turn to church for help in getting through something like this, I can imagine that would be hard for the parent or parents to do in light of it happening in church.

[dave_in_delaware]

But it wasn't the church's fault it happened in the church! It was a random event. This was a random act of stupidity from the firearm owner (or user). And the end result happened in a church. It wasn't some guy coming into the church and shooting people.

So, do you think just because God "allowed" this to happen in church the parents will abandon their faith? Or did the Devil allow this to happen, and now the parents will draw closer to God? Hmmmm.... Stuff happens for a reason. Sometimes we just never know the reason.

I'm not going to argue this at all. I have no idea why it happened where it did. Nor do I know what affect it'll have on all those involved and touched by this incident.

All I know is it's a tragedy, and I feel for the parents.

[Jeepflexin]

For what it is worth Dave I think it is just an unfortunate, negligent accident, I don't think god or church had anything to do with it unless of course it was him firing the weapon :eek:.

As far as what it will do to the parents I imagine they will be devastated (I know I would) depending on who they are it could strengthen or weaken thier faith in thier religion. Religion is something that is often used by a weak person at their weakest time to get through a difficult period of thier life so it is believable the parents will embrace thier religion even stronger. The fact it happened at church makes it less likely they will in my humble opinion, I'll likely never know but that has to change the loss in a way.

Regardless of how they go I hope the parents find a way to move on and embrace LIFE which is far more important than anything else at this point.

[Mr.Skellington]

For what it is worth Dave I think it is just an unfortunate, negligent accident, I don't think god or church had anything to do with it unless of course it was him firing the weapon :eek:.


No, wasn't him, I hear he prefers the M1A over an AK. :D

[Jeepflexin]

No, wasn't him, I hear he prefers the M1A over an AK. :D

I would have figured he was more into a M107, due to the distance.:D