A Super Bowl hangout in Santee turned into a crime scene when a teenager was shot after a firearm went off while teens were handling guns, according to sheriff’s investigators.
Deputies were called to the home around 7:30 p.m. for a report of a shooting and found a wounded teen, who was taken to a hospital. Authorities said several teens at the gathering had been handling firearms at the home when one of the guns discharged.
Investigators told the San Diego Union-Tribune that some of the guns present were replicas and that the weapon that fired was a .44-caliber cap-and-ball revolver. Officials said there were no immediate details on the teen’s condition or on whether any charges might be filed.
The weapon involved
Cap-and-ball revolvers use loose black powder, a lead ball, and percussion caps instead of modern cartridges, and they are loaded and handled differently from contemporary handguns. Even with that older-style setup, they can still fire with enough force at close range to injure someone. Guns & Ammo provides an overview of how these reproduction revolvers work and how they are typically loaded.
Investigation underway
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the shooting and collecting evidence as deputies work to determine how the revolver ended up at the gathering. As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, officials said no further information was available soon after the incident and asked anyone with information to contact investigators.
Safety and takeaways
The incident underscores how leaving firearms, including replicas or historical-style guns, within reach of teens can quickly turn dangerous. Hosts and parents are urged to treat every gun at a gathering as if it were loaded and to keep all weapons secured and out of the hands of minors.
