A Wyoming man suspected of shooting a teenager in the head during a game of “quick draw” on Mother’s Day has admitted guilt, authorities say.
Sebastian Belden, 21, pled guilty to aggravated assault and battery, according to Cowboy State Daily and other local media agencies. He now faces up to ten years in prison following his plea agreement with the Natrona County District Attorney’s Office.
Belden and a friend were outside a home on the 100 block of South Washington Street in Casper, Wyoming, on May 11. The two companions were “mishandling firearms, including pointing loaded handguns at one another,” according to the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office.
According to Belden, the two buddies frequently played “quick draw,” and they had a tendency of pointing firearms at each other. In fact, the defendant purchased a gun for his 16-year-old companion.
However, on this particular occasion, one of the weapons was not only pointed, but also discharged. Belden had “discharged” his gun, and the bullet struck the adolescent above the left eye and exited behind his left ear. The victim was sent to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries.
When authorities interviewed with Belden, he stated that it was a “one-in-a-million-fluke kind of thing because the safety on my gun was on,” according to the local news outlet. “I didn’t even know I had a live round in the chamber.” Belden was arrested on May 23 and booked into the Natrona County Detention Center.
Several persons were present during the incident, including Belden’s girlfriend and two youngsters. The defendant first instructed them to lie and inform investigators that he tripped with the gun, causing it to fire, according to Oil City News.
However, officials noticed that Belden appeared to have “remorse” for what happened, and he drafted an apologetic letter to the victim’s family, requesting that officers deliver it to them.
“The note expressed regret and remorse on behalf of Belden for hurting [the teen],” according to an affidavit. “The note also indicated that the shooting was a ‘terrible accident’ and asked for the family’s forgiveness.”
