A Texas county commissioner has been sentenced to one year of probation after accidentally shooting his 12-year-old grandson while officiating a wedding in Nebraska. The incident occurred during a family celebration in September 2023, leaving the boy with a serious shoulder injury.
Accidental Shooting During Wedding Ceremony
Michael Gardner, 63, of Odessa, Texas, was officiating the wedding of his nephew near Denton, Nebraska, when the accidental shooting took place. Gardner had planned to signal the start of the outdoor ceremony by firing a blank round into the air. However, as he cocked the hammer of his revolver, the gun discharged, striking his grandson in the shoulder.
The boy, now 13, survived the injury, but the wound measured about 8 centimeters long and 4 centimeters wide, extending deep into his muscle and causing significant tissue damage. Gardner expressed deep remorse for the incident, stating, “It’s something I’ll have to deal with for the rest of my life.”
Homemade Blank Round Misfires
Gardner revealed that he had crafted the blank round himself, using an empty shell casing, black gunpowder, and hot glue to hold the materials together. His intention was to create a harmless signal for the wedding, but the plan went tragically wrong.
Initially charged with second-degree assault, a felony, Gardner pleaded no contest to a reduced misdemeanor charge of child abuse in July.
Prosecutor’s Concerns Over Reckless Behavior
Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Eric Miller expressed concern over Gardner’s decision to bring a firearm to such a public setting, saying, “I get this is not some shoot-up at the convenience store or anything like this, but what he did was reckless behavior.”
Despite the serious nature of the incident, the court sentenced Gardner to probation rather than prison time, acknowledging that the shooting was an accident but still holding him accountable for his actions.
