Clayton Brumby shoots son Stephen dead in freak accident at firing range but vows his attitude to guns won't change

Shot dead: Stephen J. Brumby, 14, was killed in a 'freak accident'
John Dunne @jhdunne5 July 2016

A father today told of his agony after shooting his teenage son dead in a freak accident at a US firing range.

Clayton Brumby accidentally fired his gun and the bullet ricocheted into 14-year-old Stephen at a target practice session.

He said he had taken his son to the Florida range to teach him how to be safe around guns but admitted he himself had committed an “operating error” which had claimed his life.

Mr Brumby, 64, pulled the trigger while trying to pick a hot shell casing out of the back of his shirt, according to the official police report.

The incident happened at the High Noon gun range in Sarasota, Florida, on Sunday.

William Clayton, right, said he killed his son in a 'freak accident'

He said: “The gun didn’t kill my boy. I did. Every round in the gun is your responsibility. When it fires you need to stand to account for it. That’s what I’ve spent the last two days doing, accounting for my operating error.”

Mr Brumby said that all seven of his children were taught gun safety because the family had weapons for self-defence at home.

He said: “We wanted our kids to be aware of guns. I wanted them to be comfortable around them and understand them.”

Reports form the Sarasota County Sheriff’s office show that Mr Brumby fired a round at a target the bullet casing was ejected from the handgun.

The casing bounced off the wall and fell into the back of his shirt, the sheriff’s office said.

In an attempt to remove the casing he reached behind his back with the hand that was holding the gun and accidentally pulled the trigger.

Mr Brumby said the round hit the ceiling and came down on his son. He has been told he will not face charges because it was an accident. He added: “It was a very freak accident. I made a mistake.”

His father paid tribute to his son who he said “had a heart that was bigger than he was” and he was described as “as sweet and generous as they come.”

Mr Brumby added: “It was a very freak accident. I made a mistake”. However, he said it would not change his attitude towards guns and he would still keep them at home.

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