By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com
The father of a 12-year-old charged with assault and battery with intent to kill says his son is being treated like a villain because of what he says was an accident.
Wayne Beeson's son is accused of shooting 7-year-old Kayla "Samantha" Pope in the eye with a BB gun April 22. The incident took place behind Pope's home on Nushell Road.
As a result, Pope has completely lost sight in her right eye and the BB remains lodged near her brain and cannot be removed.
"He is not guilty of doing it on purpose," Mr. Beeson said of his son Tuesday.
Beeson said he was at a house on Meadow Lane April 22 when his son left to ride bicycles with his friend, Pope's brother.
"About 30 minutes later he ran in the house panicking saying something about a shot and a girl. He was so frantic I couldn't understand him," Beeson said.
He said his son and Pope's brother had been shooting at birds and (Samantha) Pope kept getting in their way. He said both boys told her she would be shot if she didn't move. Beeson said the boys did not mean it as a threat but as a warning that she needed to get out of the way.
What exactly happened next is unclear. The suspect said Pope's brother placed the cocked gun on the ground and his son, not knowing it was cocked, picked it up. Pope's mother, Mary McConnell, said her son handed the boy the gun and did not place it on the ground.
"He accidentally shot her. There is no way he would have done it on purpose," Beeson said.
After his arrest, the boy was sent to the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia until he had a hearing in Family Court. It was then the boy was placed on house arrest. He is only permitted to go to school and church. Even then he must wear an ankle bracelet so authorities can monitor his whereabouts.
"He has been catching the dickens at school because the bracelet is bulky and the kids are laughing at him about it," Beeson said. "He cries himself to sleep every night because he cannot talk to his friends."
He also said his son prays for (Samantha) Pope every night.
McConnell said she is unsure what the boy's ultimate punishment should be but something should happen.
"If he's not punished, the next time he does something it will be worse," she said.
Family Court Solicitor Nadia Black said it's unknown when the case will be heard by a judge. If he is found guilty he could be sent to DJJ until his 21st birthday.
Sam's Eye : 5/15/2008
Ok, first of all, lets tell the real story... Sam's brother and and a neighborhood kid (Beeson)were shoting at whatever with the bb gun, with permisson. Brother lays gun down on shelf or whatever, goes inside the house to use the restroom. Beeson picks the gun up, (willfully) points it at Samantha and says "think i'll do it?" Sam says "you better not" and Beeson then pulls the triger, shotting Samantha right under her right eye, lodging the bb into this sweet little girl's brian, which of course starts bleeding severly, then Beeson runs off to dad and tells "his side of the story". Now, with that being said, you tell me... that boy should not what??? Should not go where??? Should not have to wear what??? Please, give me a break. If that is not willful intent, you tell me what is! Attempted murder, assualt with a deadly weapon. If this was an adualt, he'd be gone up the road for years. The fruit does not fall far from the tree. Check into dad's (Beeson's) criminal history. You learn what you live and then you live what you've learned. The boy is lucky to have been let to come home. The entire community thinks his family should move, we want no part of him, we also have children and don't want this kid to be on our streets putting them in danger charge him as an adult and lock this attempted murder up!!! By the way, Sam is doing really good, she is even back to school, riding her bike and playing again and is adapting well to her new life style. God bless you SAM, we love you.
BB Gun : 5/15/2008
Okay, mother Mary, you stated that your son handed the suspect the gun. Did you actually witness that? And if you did, why did you continue to sit there and watch them shoot the BB gun while your little girl was in the midst. You and your son need to take some responsibility for this action also. Your son is not completely innocent. What should be his punishment for being an accessory to the crime? And yours?
GET REAL : 5/14/2008
I WORK AT DJJ IN COLUMBIA SC AND TRUST ME SENDING A CHILD TO DJJ UNTIL HIS 21ST B-DAY IS NOT THE ANSWER.. THIS CHILD QILL BE A TARGET AND YOU CANT IMAGINE THE LIFESTYLE YOUTHS ARE FACED WITH AT DJJ... THER MUST BE ANOTHER SOLUTION, TO THE PROBLEM... CAN U AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS CHILD BEING HOUSED AT DJJ FOR EIGHT YEARS??? MY PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILY OF BOTH VICTIMS, THE INJURED AND THE SUSPECT!!!!
This tragedy : 5/14/2008
If you know anything about children and their brains, you know that the 7 year old and the 12 year old are not mentally capable of making rational adult decisions. The parents should be taking the rap on this one for letting their children play unsupervised with a weapon.
Pay More Attention : 5/14/2008
I feel very sorry for the young girl and the boy. It's hard to think about it but he. I have children and I realize as a parent that accidents happen alot. You must be cautious and not to flexible with children now a days. We never think any bad thing will happen but it does. We just have to pray for the families, there just children. Parents please pay more attention to our children, it's our job!
BB gun : 5/14/2008
This is a tragedy, and sending the young man to DJJ until his 21st birthday is reasonable. Atleast he can come home after his 21st B-day. While the little girl suffer for the rest of her life. In addition, parents who provide BB gun for children should also be send to jail.
So Sad : 5/14/2008
As stated in previous message, BB guns are just as dangerous as real guns. Were either parents aware that children were playing with the BB gun? If so, were they being supervised? It is sad for both children in this situation. Their lives have changed forever. My prayers go out to both families.
bb gun : 5/14/2008
This mother is taking responsibility for her part in the accident and people need to keep Sam in mind . This boy may be getting picked on at school for the few months he has to where this bracelet but Sam will be picked on and teased for the rest of her life for being blind due to some ignorant child who purposely shot her. He admitted to it so everyone{father included}needs to quit defending him.Get the last police report filed it states he admitted to it. I have some pity for the child. His life is ruined but Sams is a lot worse.
Agreed : 5/14/2008
The article doesn't indicate whose BB gun it was but if it was the little girl's brothers BB gun then the mother has some responsibility. Twelve year olds are not mature enough to be handling these types of "toys" particularly when other children are present. My heart goes out to the young girl whose life has been so drastically affected by this incident but her mother needs to look in the mirror when she demands punishment for the boy.
BB Gun : 5/14/2008
Yes, this is a tragedy, but I don't think sending the young man to DJJ until his 21st birthday is the answer.
Very Sorry : 5/14/2008
This is a tragedy for both families. My heart goes out to each parent. Why was either child not being supervised with a weapon, that can cause irreputable damage. This is a good example for parents to know, a BB Gun is just as dangerous as a Gun. Rather intentional or an accident, this little girl has lost the gift in one eye that God gave her, her sight. This can not be given back to her. Please parents do no allow your child to play with something which should be used only under close supervision If you do allow it, you are just as guilty with the consequences as the child. I don't know if the parent of the little girl knew her child was playing with a BB-Gun, if so there was some responsibility on her part also.