Dad accidentally kills son, 14, at Florida gun range: ‘The gun didn’t kill my boy, I did’

A Florida family is reeling after a father accidentally shot and killed his 14-year-old son at a Sarasota gun range Sunday afternoon.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating what it described as an accidental shooting. William Brumby, 64, was at the High Noon Gun Range around 3:15 p.m. when he accidentally fired off his Ruger SR22, striking his son in the neck.

Mr. Brumby was positioned in the last shooting lane where there was a solid wall on his right-hand side, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

“After firing a round, the spent shell casing struck the wall causing it to deflect and fall into the back of Mr. Brumby’s shirt,” the statement said. “Brumby then used his right hand, which was holding the handgun, in an attempt to remove the casing. While doing so, he inadvertently pointed the firearm directly behind him and accidently [sic] fired. The round struck his 14-year-old son, Stephen. Mr. Brumby was also in the company of his 24-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter at the time of the incident. Neither were injured.”

Stephen was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital and later died as a result of his injuries, police said.

No charges have been filed against Mr. Brumby at this time.

“The gun didn’t kill my boy, I did,” the grieving father later said, Guns.com reported.

Mr. Brumby said he preaches gun safety, trained his kids and always goes through the rules.

“That’s why yesterday was so stupid and freaky on me because the gun is supposed to be pointed down range as all times,” he told the Tampa Bay Times. “My first thought was ’That was pretty stupid of me. I should’ve put the gun down.’ “

A Go Fund Me account to help the family pay for expenses related to Stephen’s death has surpassed $20,000.

“In his 14 years of life he was described as ’a meteor that couldn’t be contained’ by his family or anyone that knew him,” the account states. “He loved fishing, tennis music, archery, and knife throwing. He had an insatiable appetite to learn and was constantly sharing his wisdom with those around him. He was passionate about his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and dedicated his life to sharing his hope with everyone he met. The families’ only comfort is knowing that He is communing with the heroes of his faith and rejoicing in paradise.”