Sad, just very sad. They should never have allowed that boy to fire a weapon like that.
Video of boy's Uzi shooting shown at US trial
Video of boy's Uzi shooting shown at US trial
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Jurors in the trial of a former police chief watched video Thursday of an 8-year-old boy accidentally shooting himself to death with an Uzi submachine gun at a 2008 gun fair, a sight that prompted a collective gasp in the courtroom.
The video, taken by the boy's father, shows Christopher Bizilj, of Ashford, Connecticut, shooting the 9 mm micro Uzi when the front of the weapon kicks back toward his head and part of the boy's skull appears to fly off.
Former Pelham, Massachusetts, police Chief Edward Fleury, whose company co-sponsored the gun fair at the Westfield Sportsman's Club, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and furnishing weapons to a minor. He's on trial in Hampden Superior Court in Springfield.
The boy's father, emergency room Dr. Charles Bizilj, testified Thursday that he videotaped Christopher with the micro Uzi, which jammed several times. He said he started and stopped videotaping several times as the gun jammed. At one point, he said he picked his camera up, looked toward the firing line and couldn't see Christopher.
"Chris was not in the viewfinder," Bizilj testified calmly with no visible signs of emotion. "Chris was on the ground. I ran over to him. His eyes were open. I saw no reason for him to be on the ground. I tried to talk to him. He didn't respond. I put my hand behind his head to pick him up. ... There was a large portion of his cranium missing."
Bizilj said he gave medical attention to Christopher until paramedics arrived.
Some relatives began to cry during the testimony, and several left the courtroom. They declined to comment earlier in the day.
Dr. Bizilj said his two young sons were excited about the gun fair, which he had first heard about months earlier at a Labor Day party and in talks with friends.
"This was a big event," Bizilj testified. "Christopher wore his special camo pants, camo shoes and a jacket with big pockets because he had been in the habit of collecting shells off the ground."
The doctor said his sons had used firearms but had never shot automatic weapons before the machine-gun shoot.
Prosecutor William Bennett has said Christopher was too young to control the powerful weapon, which fires 1,200 rounds per minute. A now-retired state medical examiner who performed an autopsy on Christopher testified that the boy died from a single bullet wound that caused major brain damage and bleeding.
Fleury's company, COPS Firearms & Training, co-sponsored the event with the Westfield Sportsman's Club.
Bizilj acknowledged under cross-examination by Fleury's lawyer, Rosemary Scapicchio, that he signed a waiver at the Sportsman's Club before the shooting saying he was aware of the possible risks, including death, and absolved anyone of liability.
He also acknowledged that he told reporters soon after the event that he believed it was a tragic accident but later decided to file a lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed against the Westfield Sportsman's Club, Fleury and two other co-defendants for negligence. It was settled last month for about $700,000, but Fleury wasn't part of the settlement, Scapicchio said.
Bizilj said his family would use the money to set up a foundation for children's activities.
http://news.ca.msn.com/world/cp-article.aspx?cp-documentid=27144442
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Jurors in the trial of a former police chief watched video Thursday of an 8-year-old boy accidentally shooting himself to death with an Uzi submachine gun at a 2008 gun fair, a sight that prompted a collective gasp in the courtroom.
The video, taken by the boy's father, shows Christopher Bizilj, of Ashford, Connecticut, shooting the 9 mm micro Uzi when the front of the weapon kicks back toward his head and part of the boy's skull appears to fly off.
Former Pelham, Massachusetts, police Chief Edward Fleury, whose company co-sponsored the gun fair at the Westfield Sportsman's Club, has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and furnishing weapons to a minor. He's on trial in Hampden Superior Court in Springfield.
The boy's father, emergency room Dr. Charles Bizilj, testified Thursday that he videotaped Christopher with the micro Uzi, which jammed several times. He said he started and stopped videotaping several times as the gun jammed. At one point, he said he picked his camera up, looked toward the firing line and couldn't see Christopher.
"Chris was not in the viewfinder," Bizilj testified calmly with no visible signs of emotion. "Chris was on the ground. I ran over to him. His eyes were open. I saw no reason for him to be on the ground. I tried to talk to him. He didn't respond. I put my hand behind his head to pick him up. ... There was a large portion of his cranium missing."
Bizilj said he gave medical attention to Christopher until paramedics arrived.
Some relatives began to cry during the testimony, and several left the courtroom. They declined to comment earlier in the day.
Dr. Bizilj said his two young sons were excited about the gun fair, which he had first heard about months earlier at a Labor Day party and in talks with friends.
"This was a big event," Bizilj testified. "Christopher wore his special camo pants, camo shoes and a jacket with big pockets because he had been in the habit of collecting shells off the ground."
The doctor said his sons had used firearms but had never shot automatic weapons before the machine-gun shoot.
Prosecutor William Bennett has said Christopher was too young to control the powerful weapon, which fires 1,200 rounds per minute. A now-retired state medical examiner who performed an autopsy on Christopher testified that the boy died from a single bullet wound that caused major brain damage and bleeding.
Fleury's company, COPS Firearms & Training, co-sponsored the event with the Westfield Sportsman's Club.
Bizilj acknowledged under cross-examination by Fleury's lawyer, Rosemary Scapicchio, that he signed a waiver at the Sportsman's Club before the shooting saying he was aware of the possible risks, including death, and absolved anyone of liability.
He also acknowledged that he told reporters soon after the event that he believed it was a tragic accident but later decided to file a lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed against the Westfield Sportsman's Club, Fleury and two other co-defendants for negligence. It was settled last month for about $700,000, but Fleury wasn't part of the settlement, Scapicchio said.
Bizilj said his family would use the money to set up a foundation for children's activities.
http://news.ca.msn.com/world/cp-article.aspx?cp-documentid=27144442
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
G
Although the loss of a childs life to such a tragic accident cannot be overcome, I do not think a lawsuit will bring this mans son back. Isn't it not the parents responsibility to look out for their children, In my opinion I would never have let a child of mine at that age fire such a firearm. I learned firearm safety from my father and was never allowed to handle any gun that was not at my level of capably handling such a firearm
Boy's father a doctor takes him there.
Father gets boy a fully auto Uzi to shoot.
Father pays more attention to videotaping than safety.
Boy shoots himself in head.
Father ( who BTW is an educated professional) sues event
Am I the only one who sees a problem here? Listen buddy I feel bad, very bad that your kid is dead but the blame is on you, not the event staff.
Father gets boy a fully auto Uzi to shoot.
Father pays more attention to videotaping than safety.
Boy shoots himself in head.
Father ( who BTW is an educated professional) sues event
Am I the only one who sees a problem here? Listen buddy I feel bad, very bad that your kid is dead but the blame is on you, not the event staff.
The father should have been supervising his son and not left his responsibility to others.
I cannot picture anything good coming of giving an 8 year old child an Uzi to fire. I'm very sad for the family's loss and for the child, but really, how would someone think this wasn't going to end badly? An 8 year old wants to shoot something fully auto? Give him an airsoft gun, not a small submachine gun known for it's difficulty to control when firing. At least hold his hands while he fires it.
Poor parenting led to the loss of that boy's life. It may sound harsh, but it's what happened. Maybe put down the camera. It was beyond the child's control.
^^You beat me to it^^OH UNCLE PAUL said:Boy's father a doctor takes him there.
Father gets boy a fully auto Uzi to shoot.
Father pays more attention to videotaping than safety.
Boy shoots himself in head.
Father ( who BTW is an educated professional) sues event
Am I the only one who sees a problem here? Listen buddy I feel bad, very bad that your kid is dead but the blame is on you, not the event staff.
Also, father signs waiver acknowledging the risks...
Yep that's a bout it. It is sad for the loss of life and unfortunatly this will be a rallying cry for anti-gun movement across the country.OH UNCLE PAUL said:Boy's father a doctor takes him there.
Father gets boy a fully auto Uzi to shoot.
Father pays more attention to videotaping than safety.
Boy shoots himself in head.
Father ( who BTW is an educated professional) sues event
Am I the only one who sees a problem here? Listen buddy I feel bad, very bad that your kid is dead but the blame is on you, not the event staff.
Bad parenting.....case closed.
If anyone should be put on trial It should be the father
No. You are not the only one who sees the problem.
The father is the most responsible.
I do think it was pretty stupid of whomever ran this event to allow an 8 year old to shoot an automatic weapon unsupervised. Hell, even supervised I think its foolish, but the father is the number one fool here. I do feel sorry for the family but if he wants to blame someone he should look in the mirror.
The father is the most responsible.
I do think it was pretty stupid of whomever ran this event to allow an 8 year old to shoot an automatic weapon unsupervised. Hell, even supervised I think its foolish, but the father is the number one fool here. I do feel sorry for the family but if he wants to blame someone he should look in the mirror.
OH UNCLE PAUL said:Boy's father a doctor takes him there.
Father gets boy a fully auto Uzi to shoot.
Father pays more attention to videotaping than safety.
Boy shoots himself in head.
Father ( who BTW is an educated professional) sues event
Am I the only one who sees a problem here? Listen buddy I feel bad, very bad that your kid is dead but the blame is on you, not the event staff.
Thats just horrible. My oldest is turning 8 years old and the only way he will shoot a real fire arm is under my instruction with a rifle and one bullet at a time. That 2nd round could go anywere, you dont know how that kid is going to react.
You all got it very wrong.
The RO or event organizer should be there supervising, and making sure of safe gun handling.
Their gun, their ammo, their range, their event. they should set the safety standards.
not the father who is clueless about firearms.
and there also should have been rules set.
novice will only fire a .22, single shot.
intermediate will fire a loaded mag.
advanced can fire center fires.
Something like that. don't go blaming the clueless father.
Just like when I go to the ski shop to rent my kids skis. the sales clerk decides on the ski length and binding settings based on the kids experience.
The RO or event organizer should be there supervising, and making sure of safe gun handling.
Their gun, their ammo, their range, their event. they should set the safety standards.
not the father who is clueless about firearms.
and there also should have been rules set.
novice will only fire a .22, single shot.
intermediate will fire a loaded mag.
advanced can fire center fires.
Something like that. don't go blaming the clueless father.
Just like when I go to the ski shop to rent my kids skis. the sales clerk decides on the ski length and binding settings based on the kids experience.
sorry you got it wrong. Skiing, shooting doesn't matter. Personal responsibility starts and ends at home. Never look at anyone to protect you. The one who faces the danger while actively participating in a sport is the one with the most responsiblity to protect themselves.the blur said:You all got it very wrong.
The RO or event organizer should be there supervising, and making sure of safe gun handling.
Their gun, their ammo, their range, their event. they should set the safety standards.
not the father who is clueless about firearms.
and there also should have been rules set.
novice will only fire a .22, single shot.
intermediate will fire a loaded mag.
advanced can fire center fires.
Something like that. don't go blaming the clueless father.
Just like when I go to the ski shop to rent my kids skis. the sales clerk decides on the ski length and binding settings based on the kids experience.
I agree with both of the last two posts. They are both good points.
It's a tragedy and could've been prevented. I also don't think the law suit was necessary but I guess he had to find closure somewhere.
With that said, I believe in education. I don't know, being a doctor you'd think he would have the sound mind to understand firearms first before picking one up let alone give an auto UZI to an 8 year old. I always make sure people know what to expect when they are handling mine. Someone should've informed him and he should've asked. I don't expect to jump into a top fuel dragster and just mash the pedals, but then again, I know better.
I think negligence lies with both the organizers and the father.
It's a tragedy and could've been prevented. I also don't think the law suit was necessary but I guess he had to find closure somewhere.
With that said, I believe in education. I don't know, being a doctor you'd think he would have the sound mind to understand firearms first before picking one up let alone give an auto UZI to an 8 year old. I always make sure people know what to expect when they are handling mine. Someone should've informed him and he should've asked. I don't expect to jump into a top fuel dragster and just mash the pedals, but then again, I know better.
I think negligence lies with both the organizers and the father.
Before this gets into a flame war.
I'll settle:
50% blame on both parties.
But nothing will bring back the kid.
The front of the firearm should have been chained down on a teather.
I'll settle:
50% blame on both parties.
But nothing will bring back the kid.
The front of the firearm should have been chained down on a teather.
That would've been a great idea.the blur said:The front of the firearm should have been chained down on a teather.
+2HJZ said:That would've been a great idea.
So I just proved to you the event organizer is 100% at fault for not teathering the muzzle 
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
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