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A toddler became the victim of an adult man’s outburst after he was crying non-stop, Metro reports.
Amy Allen brought her two sons, two months old Riley and 18 months old Harry Studley with her to visit a couple, Jordan Walters and Emma Horseman, and their apartment located at Hartcliffe, Bristol.
Allen’s children were allegedly crying without any plans to end and the noise got into the couple’s bad, annoyed side. When they couldn’t handle it anymore, Horseman allegedly told her Walters to shoot Harry as a warning sign.
Walters, who was cleaning his rifle when his partner gave the request, decided to shoot the gun directly at the child. Walters thought that the rifle was empty so he decided to “[aim] the gun at Harry and fired it right into Harry’s head.”
According to Metro, the bullet went straight into Harry’s skull. Although immediate surgery kept the baby alive, his chances of having a full recovery and regaining what he had before cannot be confirmed.
Walters, who’s 24 years of age, pleaded guilty, according to Metro. Horseman, on the other hand, denied that she was an accomplice to the act. The 24 years old woman began her trial.
Allen said that Walters took the air rifle, a weapon specifically used to hunt rabbits, out of a cupboard in the kitchen and started cleaning it in front of the children.
The whole terrifying incident happened July 1st last year. Other neighbors and friends were also present to discuss a “lending club.”
Andrew Macfarlane, prosecuting lawyer, told the jury at Bristol Crown Court, “The circumstances of this case are both simple and horrifying. Parents in a block of flats in Bristol meet up on one Friday afternoon with their children and within an hour a baby is fighting for his life on his way to hospital.”
Macfarlane added, “While the boys were upset Amy heard Emma say ‘Oh Amy how do you cope with them crying all the time?’ She replied ‘easy you just give them attention. You’ve just got to do it.’”
He continued, “In fact it was just seconds later while Harry was still crying that Amy heard Emma say ‘shoot Harry just to frighten him, shut him up, shoot it at Harry.’ Then Amy heard the sound of a gun firing. It appeared to Amy that Jordan had aimed the gun at Harry and fired it right into Harry’s head, which is indeed what happened as you will hear.”
Macfarlane described what happened after the shooting of the young innocent kid. He said, “Amy picked him up in her arms. Blood was gushing out of Harry’s head – down and down Amy’s arms. He was in and out of consciousness.”
Amy Allen and Edward Studley, Harry’s parents, said, “We very much appreciate the help and support of our family, friends and local community at this very difficult time.”
They shared, “We are concentrating our focus on our son Harry’s recovery and would appreciate if we could have our privacy respected in order to allow us to do so.”
An unnamed witness told the Bristol Post, “I couldn’t sleep last night because I just couldn’t get this picture out of my head. The mother was running behind covered in blood.”
Jonathan Deane, detective inspector, said, “We believe the child received the severe injury from one pellet discharged from an air weapon. Our focus is very much on unravelling the full circumstances leading up to this tragedy.”
Macfarlane further elaborated, “The Crown say very simply that Miss Horseman's participation was to tell her partner to shoot Harry. It may well be, although she doesn't say so, that the intention was that Harry should be so frightened by the sound of the gun so that he would stop crying.”
“Both defendants were reckless to the point of extreme in causing the gun to be pointed at Harry and the trigger pulled.”
Deane continued, “We’re not looking for anyone else in connection with what happened and at the time we are treating this as a potentially negligent act.”
Deane added, “If any residents have specific concerns then please speak to their neighborhood team.”
Both Walters and Horseman haven’t received official sentences yet. The trial continues for Horseman.
