Central Texas Man Sentenced In Accidental Shooting
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Central Texas Man Sentenced In Accidental Shooting
A Central Texas man who pleaded guilty to firing a rifle shot that accidentally struck a 7-year-old boy who was jumping on a trampoline is headed to prison.
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(July 4, 2008)--A Central Texas man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the accidental shooting death of a 7-year-old neighbor who was jumping on a trampoline has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Jose Barrera Espitia told investigators he was target shooting in the backyard of his rural Hays County home in April 2007 when he accidentally shot and killed the boy.

Espitia said he did not see Daniel Galicia jumping on the trampoline in his backyard before firing the .22-caliber rifle.

Galicia died within an hour of being shot.

Espitia's home is about a third of a mile from where the boy was playing with other children in his cousin's backyard.

The area east of Kyle has a mix of farmland and mobile homes.

The Galicia family had asked for a tougher sentence for Espitia.

Manslaughter carries a maximum state prison sentence of 20 years.

Latest Comments

Posted by: thumps Location: tx on Jul 5, 2008 at 09:56 AM

um how do you just accidently shoot a kid who is jumping. hello isnt that a movin target. yeah ok. he was target shooting in his yard but must the target by far. prob a accident but doesnt explain why would he practice at his home and not shooting range. idk. prayers go to the family of the child.
Posted by: Bill Location: Waco on Jul 4, 2008 at 01:26 PM

I have very mixed feelings about this... On one hand, it was an ACCIDENT for crying out loud... But on the other hand, the guy should not have been shooting his gun in his backyard in a town... I am not sure prison is justified as a punishment. But I don't know all the particulars... just what I have read here. My heart goes out to the family of the boy that was killed...
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