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HURRICANE — A bullet fired by accident traveled through multiple walls into a neighboring home Wednesday, police said.
Two 14-year-old boys were looking at a shotgun they thought was unloaded when one of the teenagers picked up the weapon and pulled the trigger at about 4:38 p.m., according to the Hurricane Police Department. Investigators said a bullet was fired from the gun and went through the exterior wall of the home before entering a neighbor's house.
"The bullet traveled through multiple walls of the neighbor's residence and through an area where the homeowner was present," a statement from police reads. "The neighbor was very fortunate to not have been struck by the bullet."
- Keep guns in a safe or with child-resistant locks on them
- Don't leave your firearm unsecured in a vehicle
- Document your serial numbers to assist law enforcement in recovering stolen firearms
Source: Salt Lake City Police
Gun safety rules:
- Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
- Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
- Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Source: National Rifle Association
The teenager could face charges for discharging a firearm within city limits and reckless endangerment, according to police. The incident occurred at a home in the area of 200 South and 140 West in Hurricane.
Police said the incident provides a good example of why weapons need to be unloaded and stored in a safe manner. A 2006 study found that 22 percent of children whose parents owned a firearm had handled the weapon without their parents' knowledge.
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