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Family Believes Teen’s Death Was An Accident

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By Diana Lucio Reporter

M50o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Family Believes Teen’s Death Was An Accident

Published: Sat, May 31, 2008 - 9:20 pm

Diana Lucio

Elmore Johnson Sr. says he still can't believe his son is gone. "This is some of our trials and tribulations right here, but it's a hard pill to swallow,"Said Johnson who says his 15-year-old son died from a gun shot wound at their home on Owens Street Friday night.
Mr. Johnson says his son Elmore Jay Junior had just graduated from the 8th grade. "I think he was a hero because he never caused any problems," Said Johnson.
The teen's father says the boy got a hold of a loaded gun in the house and began to toy around with it. "A boy his age you know all boys like weapons, that's the only thing I could figure out,"Said Johnson. Johnson says the firearm went off and lodged a bullet right through his son's heart. "When he ran from the back, up to the front and collapsed, he was gone within three or four minutes,"Said the teen's father. The family believes it was an accident. Investigators say an autopsy is underway to determine the exact cause of death.
The Johnson family says funeral arrangements are being made with Yorktown Missionary Baptist Church in Prichard.

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my sympathy to the father and mother etc. accidents happen. i am so sorry you lost your son.
but wether its a pool or gun or a car, things happen beyond our control sometimes. kids do crazy things sometimes. in a high crime area or if your have ever been a victim or a violent crime, a gun is security sometimes. i am so sorry this happened to this family.

Posted by rosepetal on 06/17/08 - 11:41 am • Report Abuse

I was raised in a home that always had guns,many years ago and have always had guns in my house and to this day have not had a case of any child getting one of these or the ammo. I keep the guns and ammo separated and a cable in them so no ammo can be chambered. Everyone doesn’t need to own a gun, they’re not responsible enough to do so. Some people would be dangerous with a sling shot. This young boy should not have died and the person who owned this gun should not have had it. My condolences to the family and know that they will be grieving over this for years to come.

Posted by carl on 06/02/08 - 8:36 am • Report Abuse

RM, you are right, this is a terrible loss and a terrible way to learn that lesson. I was not being thoughtful. Too many children have been injured and families torn. It is better to think of their loss and provide sympathy.

Posted by southfan1981 on 06/02/08 - 12:27 am • Report Abuse

Well I think that America is on a binge to criminalize everyone and micro manage all our lives and therefore in keeping with the current trend the adults in the household should have been charged with reckless endangerment and
manslaughter. All remaining children in the home should prompty be removed and placed in foster care preferably in an out of State home.

Posted by MsNonsense2 on 06/01/08 - 12:14 pm • Report Abuse

My heart goes out to this family for their loss. We all know that you shouldn’t have a loaded gun, but if you look at the area where they live-crime,drugs, robberies, etc on a daily basis-it is perhaps what they thought was their best protection. I am not saying it is right. I am sure this will be something that will always haunt them always. Perhaps, as DEW26M said, people will learn from this-put your guns on a high shelf, or better, keep the gun and bullets separate.

Posted by rmseek1234 on 06/01/08 - 7:31 am • Report Abuse

Yeah, I’ve had a gun for years and a son. I’ve never had problems. I have never owned bullets.

Posted by southfan1981 on 06/01/08 - 6:10 am • Report Abuse

Why o’ why do people leave loaded guns in the vicinity of young children I lost my half-brother because his dumb father, let him walk through their home with a pistol. My brother lost his life the night of his 14th birthday, all because his father did not use his head. This is a sad story, and i feel for these parents, and I hope that some parent somewhere, learns from this, and places their guns in a safer place, away from their young children.