No charges over boy’s gun death

APIA – Samoa’s Police Commissioner says no charges have been laid following the accidental death of a nine-year-old boy who was shot last Wednesday.

Police are investigating the incident in Siumu where the boy was shot in the head by his 10-year-old cousin.

Egon Keil says the 12-gauge shotgun was unregistered and there were no adults at the scene.

He says it is unfortunate that the gun had not been kept in a safe place.

“The kids were horse-playing and one of the kids got a hold of the rifle and accidentally, – or we don’t know for sure if it was done purposefully – but he pulled the trigger. But of course it wasn’t intended to kill the nine-year-old.”

Egon Keil says the incident has devastated the family and the village.

He says there are no plans to bring charges of negligence against the owner of the unregistered gun.