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TREMONTON — A 14-year-old boy was killed after police say he was shot in the head by a miniature replica cannon in his living room.
The accident happened just after 7:30 a.m. Monday. A 14- year-old boy was holding a miniature replica cannon that was for display only and not intended to shoot projectiles, said Tremonton Police Chief David Nance.
Cameron Kunsman says 14-year-old Robbie Ostberg, who was killed in the accidental shooting, was his best friend.
"He was a good guy, and he liked to run. He was very energetic," Kunsman said.
Police say Ostberg and his 16-year-old brother were playing video games in the front room when he started handling the replica cannon.
We're not sure yet what he was doing. We don't know what kind of projectile or propellant was fired. We don't know what caused the injury.
–Chief David Nance
"At some point in handling that, the cannon fired and struck him in the face," said Tremonton Police Chief David Nance.
He died at the scene from severe head injuries. Police say the cannon was designed to be able to fire 50 caliber rounds.
"He doesn't put a bullet in there. He puts little tin foil balls in there," Kunsman said.
People on this street say the family was quiet and that Robbie was often seen helping his dad work on their car outside.
"It's definitely sad. He seemed like a smart kid," said resident Trevor Steinlicht.
As police continue to investigate what exactly happened, those who knew Robbie, like Cameron, are also trying to understand.
Police are still looking into what was fired from the cannon. They say the father was in a bedroom at the house when this all happened.
"We're not sure yet what he was doing," Nance said. "We don't know what kind of projectile or propellant was fired. We don't know what caused the injury."
Nance described the cannon as a replica 18th Century Naval cannon. It sits on a wood base. The barrel is about 6 inches long, he said.
The boy's older brother was in the living room at the time playing video games, Nance said. Their father was in a back bedroom.
An autopsy was expected to provide more details about what happened, he said.
Story written by Pat Reavy and [Mike Anderson](<mailto: manderson@ksl.com>)
