Deadly game of Russian roulette shatters peace of small Pennsylvania town

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**Howard A Treesong**

Necroshea wrote:Who the hell points a gun at their friend and pulls the trigger? Even if the cylinder is obviously out of a revolver I would never point it at a friend, let alone touch the trigger. Sheesh.

Well someone didn't teach these kids firearms safety, rules like always treating a weapon as though it is loaded. Well they knew it was loaded, that was the point. I can't even understand what went through the heads of those boys. The people owning the gun clearly didn't have it secured either if the kids got hold of it and ammunition, so that's not good either.

But then again, this was a game that struck up when one kid said "Let's play Russian roulette". Which is just insane. I can't believe the parents of the dead boy are calling it a 'freak accident' like it was a bizarre misfire, there's a direct line of fault here from an adult not storing a firearm properly to a 15 year old putting a loaded gun to someone's head and pulling the trigger. They weren't intending to kill, but it was hardly an 'accident'. It's just so so stupid that I can't find the words to describe it.

**CT GAMER**

MrMerlin wrote:Another reason to make it harder for irresponsible idiots to buy firearms... people like these parents really shouldn't be allowed to own guns.

But they need those guns to protect their families...

**timetowaste85**

You guys have heard me call out for Darwin awards in the past, and have diminished respect for people who kill themselves in stupid ways. That is not the case here. One boy pointed it at another and pulled. The boy who died was a tragic example of somebody else's stupidity. He may not have even had a chance to duck or tell the other boy to stop. This is a tragic example of a lost life, and even though a large part of it is the parents' judgement, I do think the boy who pulled the trigger deserves jail. He may be "in pain," but he killed his best friend in cold blood. Had they been horsing around, wrestling, and he accidentally broke his friend's neck, then no, it would not be a jail-worthy trespass. Pointing a loaded gun at a person's head and pulling the trigger deserves jail time. I mourn for the life of the murdered kid, and hope his friend gets the harshest sentence the judge feels is deserved.

**Bromsy**

Necroshea wrote:Who the hell points a gun at their friend and pulls the trigger? Even if the cylinder is obviously out of a revolver I would never point it at a friend, let alone touch the trigger. Sheesh.

More importantly, what dumbass plays Russian Roulette without a gakload of money on the table? The idea of playing it, I get, but for free? You better put a Lamborghini loaded with coked up models in the pot.

**GalacticDefender**

kronk wrote:
Rarmah wrote:
Now I'm sorry. but what happened to keeping your firearm in a locked container out of the reach of the young!?

100% agreement.

You absolutely should be keeping your guns locked in a safe and/or gun-locked. Any responsible parent with a gun knows this. Little kids get into everything. Bigger kids (teenagers) like to cause trouble and/or do stupid gak.

Obviously, these parents were careless with their firearms and another teenager lost his life. It's a horrible lesson-learned for parents and kids that were obviously close to each other.

Ahem.

Not all teenagers do stupid irresponsible crap. I own a couple old bolt action rifles and a cap and ball revolver, and I would never consider doing something stupid with them. (and I keep the ammo in a safe, but the rifles are too awesome to not hang on my wall) I'm older than 15, but still, I think some fifteen year olds could be responsible enough to own a gun. The parents in this case should have realized that their son was not responsible, but I still put the responsibility on the kid. Anyone with half a brain knows that a 2/6 chance of blowing your firend's head off is not something to mess around with.

And Jihadin, you treat your airsoft pistol like a real gun... That doesn't apply in an airsoft war, right?

**Jihadin**

And Jihadin, you treat your airsoft pistol like a real gun... That doesn't apply in an airsoft war, right?

Center mass...no head shots

**GalacticDefender**

timetowaste85 wrote:You guys have heard me call out for Darwin awards in the past, and have diminished respect for people who kill themselves in stupid ways. That is not the case here. One boy pointed it at another and pulled. The boy who died was a tragic example of somebody else's stupidity. He may not have even had a chance to duck or tell the other boy to stop. This is a tragic example of a lost life, and even though a large part of it is the parents' judgement, I do think the boy who pulled the trigger deserves jail. He may be "in pain," but he killed his best friend in cold blood. Had they been horsing around, wrestling, and he accidentally broke his friend's neck, then no, it would not be a jail-worthy trespass. Pointing a loaded gun at a person's head and pulling the trigger deserves jail time. I mourn for the life of the murdered kid, and hope his friend gets the harshest sentence the judge feels is deserved.

This. Laying the responsibility wholly on the parents is just fething rediculous.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Jihadin wrote:
And Jihadin, you treat your airsoft pistol like a real gun... That doesn't apply in an airsoft war, right?

Center mass...no head shots

Yeah, we have the same rule, through if a head shot does accidentally happen we still count it, unless the player was injured of course.

**Jihadin**

Also not to play at night outside

**hotsauceman1**

How about this, Thousands of hours of community service for the kid teaching gun safety.

**GalacticDefender**

Jihadin wrote:Also not to play at night outside

What? Night time Airsoft is exactly half the reason me and my friends play airsoft. Seriously? Night time airsoft is one of the most awesome things ever, especially if you live on 20 acres of forest. I like night time airsoft better than daytime airsoft, actually. When someone says "airsoft" I think "night airsoft". It's a totally different experience. Whereas daytime airsoft is all about tactical manuvering and running and gunning, night time airsoft is about stealth, and being as silent as possible. Sometimes we'll do night time objective based stuff too, where one team starts with a flag and has to bring it to a certain point, and the other team lies in wait, setting up an ambush. Holy crap, you don't know what you are missing

Try it sometime, just try it. The worst that can happen, even with a headshot, is a bloody welt in the face, as long as you have safety glasses.

**SagesStone**

I thought Russian roulette was played with one bullet and aimed at yourself.

**poda_t**

n0t_u wrote:I thought Russian roulette was played with one bullet and aimed at yourself.

unless you are 15 years old, and a dumbdonkey.

edited because world filter failed

**SOFDC**

I thought Russian roulette was played with one bullet and aimed at yourself.

Unless it's manslaughter.

**chromedog**

Howard A Treesong wrote:I can't even understand what went through the heads of those boys.

Unfortunately for one of them, it was a .38 slug. The one who pulled the trigger? It probably wasn't "Hey, maybe I shouldn't do this!".

What kind of idiot thinks "Russian Roulette" is a cool game to play? Why weren't they calling each other noob on BF3 or whatever game the kids are playing on PSXboxnetworklive these days? There ain't no respawn in life. You die in this game of life, you die for good.

The kid was supposedly "familiar" with firearms due to his father.
I'm guessing either his father didn't teach him the usual two important rules (1. ALWAYS assume a gun is loaded. 2. NEVER point it at anything you don't want to shoot.) or the dipsh*t just didn't pay attention - in which case, he shouldn't have had ACCESS to ANY of his parental unit's guns.

He may be "suffering" and living with the guilt of killing his mate for the rest of his life, but that still doesn't excuse the fact that sane, rational (ok, 15 years old, maybe neither - given the average teen) people don't do this kind of gak for "fun".

**dogma**

Rarmah wrote:
Now I'm sorry. but what happened to keeping your firearm in a locked container out of the reach of the young!?

Alternatively, what happened to parents who own weapons taking their kids shooting, and teaching them about firearms; even at the level of "Don't point guns at things you do not want dead."

**Howard A Treesong**

chromedog wrote:He may be "suffering" and living with the guilt of killing his mate for the rest of his life, but that still doesn't excuse the fact that sane, rational (ok, 15 years old, maybe neither - given the average teen) people don't do this kind of gak for "fun".

Well I'm wondering if there might be more to it, the parents of the dead boy seem very forgiving. I'm not trying to be funny, but maybe the boy that used the gun had some kind of mental issues, because I can't see how anyone remotely normal could not link cause and effect in the way he did. It's more like a 5 year old rather than a 15 year old.

**dogma**

Howard A Treesong wrote:... because I can't see how anyone remotely normal could not link cause and effect in the way he did.

It depends on how well you knew the other kids, and how well you knew your son.

You can love your son, and also understand that he's a moron.

**SoloFalcon1138**

Sounds like a case of poor parental skills. Russian Roulette is a game played by someone who is either suicidal or has no respect for a handgun.

**Jihadin**

Anyone getting the urge to watch "Deer Hunter" again?

What? Night time Airsoft is exactly half the reason me and my friends play airsoft. Seriously? Night time airsoft is one of the most awesome things ever, especially if you live on 20 acres of forest. I like night time airsoft better than daytime airsoft, actually. When someone says "airsoft" I think "night airsoft". It's a totally different experience. Whereas daytime airsoft is all about tactical manuvering and running and gunning, night time airsoft is about stealth, and being as silent as possible. Sometimes we'll do night time objective based stuff too, where one team starts with a flag and has to bring it to a certain point, and the other team lies in wait, setting up an ambush. Holy crap, you don't know what you are missing Try it sometime, just try it. The worst that can happen, even with a headshot, is a bloody welt in the face, as long as you have safety glasses.

20 acres though lol. We don't do nights here in the community. Remember wen Lazer Tag came out and was played at night?

**Frazzled**

Jihadin wrote:
Scott Hammond doesn’t blame the 15-year-old boy accused of killing his only son during a game of Russian roulette at a sleepover in a small Pennsylvania town earlier this month. Instead, he prays for him.

The rural community of Everett, population 2,000, has been devastated by the death of Neal Hammond, also 15, in an incident that forever damaged three families – Hammond’s, the shooter’s and that of the boy who brought the gun to the slumber party. But instead of bitterness and anger in a town where nearly everyone knows everyone, the awful tragedy has spurred an outpouring of compassion, starting with the dead boy's family.

“Cole has been in our hearts since this happened because he and my son were very, very close,” Scott Hammond said of Cole McConoughey, who has been charged with aggravated assault and could face homicide charges in the death of his best friend. “I know it's been weighing on him heavily and we’ve been praying for him every day.”

“My wife and I have been praying for that poor boy. I don’t want to see him face any jail time.”

- Scott Hammond, father of boy killed in Russian roulette

The tragic shooting came at almost the same time a gunman opened fire in a Colorado movie theater, killing 12. But in the basement of the McConougheys' Riverview Road home, there was no demonic intent, only the naive bravado of three teenage boys fascinated by the .38 caliber Smith & Wesson one brought to the party.

The gun was left unloaded in a basement drawer, the third boy, who has not been named and who also faces charges, told police. As midnight drew near and they talked about things boys talk about, McConoughey allegedly took the gun and two bullets out of the drawer. He spun the revolver's cylinder, loading and unloading bullets -- "pointing the gun and joking around," police said.

"Let's play Russian roulette," the boy allegedly heard McConoughey say, according to court documents.

A moment later, McConoughey allegedly pointed the gun at Hammond's head. "He pulled the trigger thinking it was going to click," police said.

Neal Hammond was struck in the right temple and died the next morning, July 20, at 9:30 a.m.

Bedford County District Attorney Bill Higgins said there was no indication of any “altercation, animosity or ill will” between the boys.

“This is a tragic example of the consequences of the irresponsible handling of a firearm,” Higgins said in a statement. “Sadly, this is a situation that could have easily been avoided by adhering to two basic firearm safety measures -- always assume a gun is loaded, and never point a firearm at a target you do not intend to shoot. My heart goes out to the family and loved ones of the young man who lost his life.”

Investigators say another teen brought the revolver and bullets to the sleepover before McConoughey pointed the gun at Hammond’s head and pulled the trigger. Higgins, who could not be reached for comment, said McConoughey has been charged with aggravated assault as an adult. But that charge will be upgraded to homicide, Higgins told the Altoona Mirror, and whether the boy will face a third-degree murder or a manslaughter charge will depend upon an ongoing investigation, he said.

Whatever the outcome, Scott Hammond, 41, who works with at-risk youth in Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services, hopes McConoughey doesn’t serve time for his son’s death.

“Cole’s pain has been a burden on us since the day it happened,” he said. “My wife and I have been praying for that poor boy. I don’t want to see him face any jail time.”

Hundreds of mourners flooded First Christian Church last Wednesday to honor Hammond, a popular wrestler and football player who would have entered his sophomore year at Everett Area High School next month. Rev. Robert Robertson said Hammond was remembered as a “laid back,” altruistic teen who transformed into a tenacious “scrapper” once on a wrestling mat.

“He was a character, a good, likable kid,” Robertson told FoxNews.com. “He had many friends.”

Elsie Meloy, a secretary at the church, said a “feeling of hope” pervaded the service packed with Hammond’s classmates and teammates.

“I’ve never seen that many people in the church for a funeral and I’ve been here for 30 years,” Meloy told FoxNews.com. “Neal was just a kind young man who liked everyone he met.”

Higgins has said charges are expected against other people, but declined to elaborate. An attorney for McConoughey, who was released after posting bail and is due to appear in court next month, reportedly wants the case moved to juvenile court -- as does Scott Hammond.

“I know that this kid could get help in a juvenile facility,” Hammond said of McConoughey. “I don’t think he’ll get the help he needs in an adult facility.”

For now, Hammond said he and his wife Georgina will rely on their faith to help them digest the “freak accident” that killed their son. And Hammond won’t paint firearms as the villain in the killing either, as Neal “knew about guns” from his father’s experience as a hunter.

“I don’t really blame anybody, it was a freak accident,” Hammond said. “I don’t have any hard feelings toward either youth or anybody. It was just an accident.”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/31/small-pa-town-reels-after-game-russian-roulette-leaves-three-families/#ixzz22Ddx7qO4

unbelievable. Just ubelievable

Sounds like a bad day. I like Swiss roullette better. You have six Swiss cakes. One has twice as much sweet sweet filling than the other. The loser finds it.
Everyone wins!!!

Automatically Appended Next Post:

dogma wrote:
Rarmah wrote:
Now I'm sorry. but what happened to keeping your firearm in a locked container out of the reach of the young!?

Alternatively, what happened to parents who own weapons taking their kids shooting, and teaching them about firearms; even at the level of "Don't point guns at things you do not want dead."

yea. Both my kids learned that lesson at five. The guns are still locked up. Better safe than sorry.*

*Actually its more to do with keeping the wiener dogs from attempting target practice at the squirrels...again

. Fortunately for the squirrels TBone is a horrible shot. Unfortunately for my neighbors TBone is a horrible shot...

**Jihadin**

Luis Canelos destroyed most of his genitalia at age 9, when he picked up his father’s rifle and accidentally shot himself in the groin. Now, at age 17, he plans to undergo surgery to rebuild his damaged penis, the Miami Herald reported.

According to the Herald, a doctor in Miami heard about Luis’ injury and reached out to his family, who live in a rural Peruvian village. Luis and his father, Roger, 41, flew up to Miami July 16 with the help of a program called International Kids Fund Wonderfund, which raises money for foreign children to get medical treatment and surgery they can’t receive or afford in their home countries.

For the procedure, known a phalloplasty, two medical teams will build a new penis for Luis using a fibular bone from a cadaver, with the hope that he will have a fully functioning penis when the operation is done – and even be able to father children.

Luis will be treated at Holtz Children’s Hospital at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. The surgery is scheduled for August.

“I want to recover my body, be young again,” Luis told the Miami Herald

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/07/26/boy-17-to-undergo-genital-reconstruction-after-rifle-accident/?intcmp=obnetwork#ixzz22IRMxp6a

I'm loss for words

**GalacticDefender**

I once got a rather large welt on my foot from an airsoft revolver......

The airsoft war was over, and we had a few minutes to just hang around. When I am acting as sniper, I use a Wingun full metal co2 revolver (yeah, that thing is FEARED). Anyway, we got the bright idea to play russian roullette with the thing (safety glasses on, and shooting at our shoe'd feet). Well, I went last, and after eight of us got lucky, I was feeling rather good about it. So, I loaded one of the shells, spun the cylinder, and pointed it at my foot. It goes 'PFFFT" in it's usual loud sound, and the bb hits me right in the tip of my big toe. It didn't go though my shoe of course, but I actually had a little bit of a bruise there

And that was the last of that lol.

Egg roulette is much better. Take a large number of eggs (20 is enough for a small group), hard boil all but one. Have everyone line up, and smash themselves in the forehead with the eggs. The one without the hardboiled one gets yolk all over him, obviously.

But seriously, why is everyone so quick to lay the blame on the parents? It is the kid's fault 100% for being a fething moron.

**poda_t**

well, on closer inspection:

clearly the 15 year old bastard made the suggestion of russian roulette, wherefrom we can assume that he is a commie bastard, and we can discard his human rights and should probably have him sent to guantanamo.

any other statment in this thread is completely and utterly invaild.

**VermGho5t**

poda_t wrote:I'm stuck at the part where it says "15 year old boy". At that age, I'm not going to blame the parents for firearm placement, because I got into all sorts of gak my parents thought they'd locked me out of. I blame this kid, and he deserves jail time. At 15, he should have basic ideas of cause and effect figured out, irrespective of the fact that it's only a 1/3 or 1/4 chance that the gun will fire. This shouldn't even be relegated to manslaughter. The kid wasn't being negligent, the kid loaded rounds into a gun, spun the cylinider, pointed it at someone and pulled the trigger. I don't see how you can make any valid argument of "i didn't intend to kill him". What was the intention then? Scare the living gak out of him? Yeah, then what, pull the trigger a second time and actually kill him?

In total agreement here. When I was 12 I start duck hunting. Even before that time I would go out with my father and grandfather and the two most important rules (which were aforementioned) were highly stressed. Not only was it stressed when I started being exposed to firearms as a youngster, but taking the hunter safety exam (required in California for a hunting license) as well. The community is small and probably rural, so I'll make the assumption that firearms are not unfamiliar tools for that environment.

I bet this is something the kid will never forget and will effect him for the rest of his life, which is probably enough of a consequence.

**poda_t**

VermGho5t wrote:
poda_t wrote:I'm stuck at the part where it says "15 year old boy". At that age, I'm not going to blame the parents for firearm placement, because I got into all sorts of gak my parents thought they'd locked me out of. I blame this kid, and he deserves jail time. At 15, he should have basic ideas of cause and effect figured out, irrespective of the fact that it's only a 1/3 or 1/4 chance that the gun will fire. This shouldn't even be relegated to manslaughter. The kid wasn't being negligent, the kid loaded rounds into a gun, spun the cylinider, pointed it at someone and pulled the trigger. I don't see how you can make any valid argument of "i didn't intend to kill him". What was the intention then? Scare the living gak out of him? Yeah, then what, pull the trigger a second time and actually kill him?

In total agreement here. When I was 12 I start duck hunting. Even before that time I would go out with my father and grandfather and the two most important rules (which were aforementioned) were highly stressed. Not only was it stressed when I started being exposed to firearms as a youngster, but taking the hunter safety exam (required in California for a hunting license) as well. The community is small and probably rural, so I'll make the assumption that firearms are not unfamiliar tools for that environment.

I bet this is something the kid will never forget and will effect him for the rest of his life, which is probably enough of a consequence.

humans are however stupid, and have the sad requirement of having to learn the same lesson repeatedly before taking it to heart. This kid will suffer, but I'm suspicious this is not the end of his wacky fun-filled travels.