Boy (6) with 3 years of firearms training from father, shoots sister (4) in the face with shotgun. [View all]

[Robb]

The boy — who has firearm experience — initially told the sheriff’s department he picked up the shotgun and it went off and shot the girl when he accidentally dropped it, but he later admitted he pulled the trigger and his dad told him to lie about how the gun discharged, according to the complaint.

The boy said the girl asked him to point the gun at her, and he said he aimed it too close to her ear while trying to aim past her shoulder.

Maphis said firearms in the house typically are locked and not accessible to children, but he had forgotten to put away the shotgun and unload it. He said the gun was left on top of a dog kennel in a room after he had been shooting at birds attacking his chickens the previous days.

The boy’s mother told the sheriff’s department the boy has been shooting firearms since he’s been 3 years old and he has a .22-caliber rifle he’s allowed to shoot with parental supervision, according to the complaint.

Maphis is charged with leaving a loaded firearm near a child and obstructing an officer, both misdemeanors. He has an initial court appearance scheduled for Sept. 23.

Read More: http://lacrossetribune.com/jacksoncochronicle/news/latest/father-charged-in-sibling-shooting/article_ba93b9d8-1f25-11e3-a2fa-0019bb2963f4.html

The good news is the father's just been charged with misdemeanors, so there's no chance his guns will have to go to a gun orphanage.