12-year-old charged in BB gun shooting
Last Updated on 10/11/2008
Published on 5/6/2008
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com
A young Georgetown girl has lost sight in her right eye after being shot with a BB gun by a 12-year-old neighbor.
The incident happened April 22 behind the Nushell Road home of 7-year-old Kayla Pope.
The shooting -- as reported in the Georgetown Times April 25 -- was originally thought to have been an accident but now the boy who fired the shot has been charged.
On the day of the incident, the boy said he saw the BB gun on the ground and it accidentally discharged when he slung it over his shoulder. The BB struck Pope in the eye.
Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Neil Johnson said Tuesday investigators "received additional information" recently that resulted in the 12-year-old being charged with assault and battery with intent to kill. His name cannot be released due to his age.
Pope's mother, Mary McConnell, said her daughter had to undergo surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina Hospital but the doctors were unable to restore her sight in that eye. They were also unable to retrieve the BB which is now lodged near her brain.
"The doctors said a surgery to remove the BB would be too dangerous," McConnell said.
Johnson would not elaborate on the new information investigators received. However, McConnell said her daughter told investigators the boy picked up the gun and pointed it at her and said he was going to shoot her right before he pulled the trigger.
"That's when he shot her in the face," McConnell said.
It was the first time the boy had ever been at their house, she added.
McConnell said her daughter was expected to return to school Tuesday but was afraid because the shooter -- who was sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia -- is now back home and has been released to go back to school.
Even though Pope is in the 2nd grade and the boy is in the 5th grade, the two are in the same room during lunch. McConnell said the staff of the school is supposed to make sure there is no contact between the students.
McConnell said she wants to see the boy punished for the crime.
"A 12-year-old should know better than to point any kind of gun at anyone," she said.
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Mary and dean; I too think that there should be some kind of punishment, but jail is not the answer... my church family here in Texas has been praying for samatha and for this young boy and will continue to do so....lets try to be role models for the children who don't have them at home, to teach them and guide them.... I do not believe that there is a such thing as a bad child .... just misguided children Posted by on 5/8/2008
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I pray that God restores the sight of your daughter, and that the B.B. travels to another location where it can be removed. As for the 12-year-old, please have forgiveness in your heart. I agree there should be some form of punishment, but SC seems to issue out very harsh sentences, when the crime does not necessarily fit the punishment. This child should have some form of counseling to learn not to lie, and there are consequences for your actions. He should also have some interaction with the blind to see what he has created in this little beautiful child, caused by one moment of not thinking. As far as incarceration, there is no rehabilitation in that. We need to come up with better solutions, when our children create an act, that is harmful to another child and death is not involved. Posted by Ms. Johnson on 5/7/2008
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