Camden boy accidentally fires rifle, killing playmate

Posted 7:20PM on Wednesday 30th January 2002 ( 23 years ago )

KINGSLAND - A 13-year-old Camden County boy was killed when his 10-year-old friend apparently picked up a loaded hunting rifle from the victim's bedroom dresser and it accidentally fired, authorities said. Police also found several other loaded firearms in the north Camden County home where the victim, Richard Will Swain, was shot in the head Sunday, said William Terrell, a spokesman with the Camden County Sheriff's Office. Police were trying to determine who owns the .30-06 rifle and the other firearms taken from the home, Terrell said Wednesday. The mother of the 10-year-old who accidentally discharged the high-powered rifle said her son ``swears he did not touch the trigger.'' ``My son told me the gun was lying on the dresser,'' she told police. ``He picked up the gun and it fired. There was no horseplaying.'' She said she was driving to pick up her son, who spent the night at the victim's house, when the shooting happened around noon. ``We walked in on the father running out of the house screaming,'' the mother said. She said her son, who was not identified because of his age, didn't have any knowledge about firearms. The rifle was ``cocked and loaded'' when her son picked up the weapon off the dresser, she said. ``He would not know how to load a .30-06,'' she said. The mother said her son is staying with relatives out of town and trying to recover. ``He said he felt like he killed his brother,'' she said. ``He's shut down. It's just horrible.'' The victim's father, Richard H. Swain, was home when the shooting happened but the boys were alone in the 13-year-old's bedroom. George Turner, assistant district attorney for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, said he has not reviewed police reports yet and did not know if charges would be filed. Classmates of the two boys at Camden Middle School and Woodbine Elementary School met with counselors Tuesday, said Edwin Davis, assistant superintendent of schools. ``Obviously, it's something that's touched the community,'' Davis said.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/1/199469