FATHER WHOSE 3-YEAR-OLD SHOT TWO TURKEY HUNTERS DURING YOUTH SEASON CHARGED WITH FELONIES

[Big Bad]

Update. There was a photo but FB did one of its annoying resets when I went back to get it.

The Sportsmen Party
​

FATHER WHOSE 3-YEAR-OLD SHOT TWO TURKEY HUNTERS DURING YOUTH SEASON CHARGED WITH FELONIES

Back in April, we covered the shocking Wisconsin turkey hunting accident where a 3-year-old girl pulled the trigger of a 12-gauge shotgun and shot a 40-year-old man and his 7-year-old son. Now the father supervising that hunt, 35-year-old Racine County sheriff’s deputy James Lehman, has been charged with four felonies. Prosecutors charged him with two counts of second-degree reckless injury with a dangerous weapon and two counts of injury by negligent use of a dangerous weapon.

According to the criminal complaint, Lehman told investigators he saw what he believed was a turkey and positioned the shotgun before having his daughter pull the trigger. The victims were about 39 yards away. The father suffered multiple pellet wounds, while his 7-year-old son suffered wounds to his head and back that required surgery. Three pellets reportedly remain in the boy’s spinal cord, skull and brain.

There is another important part of this story. Lehman did not have a Wisconsin hunter education certificate because his military service qualified him for an exemption. He reportedly told investigators he was not an experienced turkey hunter and that this was one of his first times hunting independently. His initial court appearance is scheduled for September 10. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Aaron B. Futrell, Author|Owner, Delong Lures

 

[redshooter]

Human, Turkey, not alike, not even a little, this is the problem with the 2A, our system for all it's flaws at least provides a filter.

How does a 3 yr old fire a 12 ga.?

How does someone that dumb get a gig like Deputy Sheriff?

 

[wolf300H&H]

Damn ! What the hell. A 3 year old and a 12 gauge …. Merica !

 

[MK2750]

I would dare say that the 3 year old pulling the trigger was a fabrication in an attempt to cover up reckless incompetence.

 

[Can-down]

Shooting at movement without verifying the target is dangerous behaviour he's lucky they were not killed but it sounds like the boy is not clear of all physical damage let alone the mental damage.

Taking a 3 year old out on a turkey hunt when your an experienced hunter is a dumb idea let alone someone who is new to hunting.

I wonder if the people shot were wearing blaze orange or camo.... a hand held thermal optic might have been useful for identifying the target but at the end of the day if you can't see what your shooting at clearly you should not shoot.