Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Open carry rally rescheduled after local teen unintentionally shoots & kills himself

A local gun group, Arkansas Carry, had planned to march through downtown Jonesboro, Arkansas openly carrying their firearms in a demonstration of what they believe to be Arkansas gun laws. However, the group decided to reschedule their demonstration after a local teen unintentionally shot and killed himself outside of a downtown restaurant. "We did it out of respect for the family of this tragedy that happened," said the spokesperson for Arkansas Carry. "If it would have been gun violence, we wouldn't have stopped it, but it was an accident."

17-year-old Jonathon Bell, of Brookland, Arkansas, was with a youth ministry group from Walnut Street Baptist Church at the Chick-fil-A fast food restaurant on Stadium Boulevard. Bell joined two boys who were outside listening to music in a red truck in the parking lot. When Bell got in the truck he saw a handgun stuffed beside the driver's seat and grabbed it.

According to reports, Bell placed the gun underneath his chin and pulled the trigger, causing the gun to discharge. Bell died from his injuries about two hours later.

Police found three unfired bullets in the truck next to Bell and the youth also had a bullet in his right hand. When police looked at the gun the six-shot revolver had five empty chambers and one fired casing lined up in the firing position of the gun.

The .357 revolver belonged to the grandfather of one of the boys. Police have said the grandfather will not face charges for leaving a loaded, unlocked gun where a minor could access it. "We're not going to file anything," he said. "There's not any charges to pursue."

According to Bell's obituary he enjoyed for frog gigging, fishing, hunting and other outdoor sports and was also an avid pool player.

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