North Carolina Bumbling Gun Owner Shoots Neighbor through the Wall - It Was Just an Accident - No Charges

Local news reports

A Havelock man was injured Thursday evening when a pistol being cleared by a neighbor discharged, sending a bullet through a wall that divided the two residences in the duplex.


Brannaird Riley, 47, was wounded in the upper right arm, according to a release from Havelock Police Chief G. Wayne Cyrus. Riley was treated at the scene by Havelock rescue personnel and then transported to CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern, where he was treated and released.

Marianne Lee, 26, of 128 Village Court, was attempting to clear a 9 mm pistol for packing for a move to California when the gun fired, according to the release. The bullet went into the wall, ricocheted off a stud, passed through Riley’s living room and then went through his bedroom wall. Riley was struck while in his bed, according to the release.

Cyrus said information from the investigation was provided to District Attorney Scott Thomas. The discharge of the gun was determined to be accidental, and no charges were filed against Lee, according to the release.