Teen shooting ruled accidental

A 14-year-old is lucky to be alive after being shot in the chest. Michael Witcher and a friend were getting ready for a hunting trip when the friend's gun went off.

Wednesday, October 15th 2008, 7:13 pm

By: News 9


By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A 14-year-old is lucky to be alive after being shot in the chest.

Michael Witcher and a friend were getting ready for a hunting trip when the friend's gun went off.

But it's what happened after the teen was shot that has family and friends in disbelief.

Just 24 hours after being shot with a 20 gauge shotgun in the chest by his best friend, Witcher is home describing the events that landed him in the hospital.

"We were getting ready to go on a youth hunting trip and we were getting ready to clean his gun, and I get up to go get a drink and I guess he was already wiping it down and it was loaded," Witcher said. "It went off and I noticed he hit me."

After being knocked to the ground by the shot, Witcher said he got back up on his feet and then jumped on his four-wheeler and started it up. He says he then managed to drive himself a mile to where his house was, so he could get to his aunt for help.

"I just thought they were playing," Witcher's Aunt, Rhonda Fagan, said.

It wasn't until his aunt saw the hooded sweatshirt he was wearing torn to shreds and drenched in blood that she realized this was no joke but the real thing. It wasn't until she saw her nephew's friend that she also realized it was an accident.

"He was sitting at our dining room table," Fagan said. "He said he didn't care if his friend hated him, just as long as he lived, that was what that little boy was worried about is making sure he lived."

After an investigation the sheriff's office agrees the shooting was an accident. Witcher and his friend said they have learned some valuable lessons in the situation.

Even though the shooting has been ruled an accident, the sheriff's office said they've determined the gun was not stored safely and the owners could face charges.

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