LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) -- Sheriff's officials from Livingston County say the accidental shooting death of a 19-year-old man from Howell, Mich. could have been prevented if gun safety rules had been followed.
According to authorities, Charles Robert Kimball was shot in the head with an AK-47 knock-off assault rifle on Saturday shortly before 1 p.m. It happened at the Livingston Conservation and Sports Association in Brighton Township.
Officials say the victim and another 19-year-old were shooting the gun when it jammed. Apparently the teen who owned the gun had been having problems with the rifle since he purchased it, sheriff's officials say.
When they tried to fix it, a bullet fired, striking Kimball in the head and killing him instantly, officials say.
"If [the gun] is malfunctioning, everybody has to be behind the line," says Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte. "And that's obviously what went wrong in this particular case."
A third 19-year-old and a 16-year-old were also with Kimball and his friend, but say they didn't see the shooting happen.
Bezotte says the teen who owned the assault rifle told the others that he was a member at the gun range and had permission to be there, but did not. "They didn't check into the office like they should have. They just drove out there and started firing," says Bezotte.
Officials say the shooting appears to be an accident and no charges have been filed, but the case has been forwarded to the prosecutor's office for review. Authorities say trespassing and negligent homicide charges are a possibility.
"[This is] a tragic accident that could have been avoided if safety rules were followed," says Bezotte. "That's the bottom line."
