Woman, unborn baby die in US gun accident

A pregnant woman was accidentally shot in the head while her friend showed off his gun collection last Saturday.

The Florida woman, who was five months pregnant, died in the tragic accident, reported TV station CBS Miami.

Mrs Katherine Lynn Hoover, 25, died on Sunday morning, according to Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

Her unborn baby could not be saved, reported UK's The Daily Mail.

Mrs Hoover had been admiring a gun that belonged to her friend, Mr William DeHayes, while she was at his house. He passed his .22 calibre revolver to the expectant mother, who was also with her husband, Mr Carson Hoover.

The weapon accidentally fired among the group of friends at around 6.45pm.

But neighbours reacted to the incident with scepticism.

"It's very hard to believe it was an accident, especially point blank in the temple, that's hard to understand,' said neighbour Josh Hady. The father of the shooter, Mr Don DeHayes, told US TV station WTSP that his son had accidentally pointed the pistol in her direction and the gun went off.

"We feel terrible about the whole thing," said Mr DeHayes.

Mrs Hoover was taken by ambulance to Bayfront Health Brooksville, then airlifted to another medical facility, where doctors operated and removed her baby just before 8pm.

The baby was pronounced dead after 8.30pm.

Officers from Hernando Sheriff's department have opened an investigation.

So far, they have indicated that the shooting was accidental, but they have not revealed whether Mr DeHayes will be charged with negligence.

DISTRAUGHT

According to the Tampa Bay Tribune, Mrs Hoover's husband is "very distraught", said Mr Gregory Stewart, whose daughter once dated Mr Hoover.

"He is very upset and going through the range of emotions a normal person would.

"He's not sleeping, very traumatised," said Mr Stewart.

Mrs Hoover's brother, Gary Bryan, told The Tampa Bay Times that the family was in shock.

He said: "My sister was a wonderful and special woman. She was a wonderful wife and mother. She had just got married and was getting herself established."

This article was first published on July 29, 2014.
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