NFL receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg in a New York night club in 2008. He served two years in prison for his stupidity.
An unknown person apparently accidentally shot 23-year-old Aaron Dwan in the chest in a Wentzville church on Saturday night. I doubt this person serves two years in prison.
St. Charles County officials have not released the name of the “person of interest” who felt the need to bring a gun into a church.
A church? Really?
As of Monday night, we still didn’t know who is responsible for the shot that could have killed Dwan or more than 160 other people cleaning up after a trivia fundraiser at St. Patrick Church.
According to Wentzville Police, the shooting was an accident. This is based on what the “person of interest” told them, as well as reports from several other witnesses.
The “person of interest” went to police on Sunday morning after hearing reports of the shooting on TV.
I guess the “person of interest” managed to fire a gun in a crowded building and failed to recognize that someone could have been shot. Or maybe this person saw Dwan go down and figured it was a good time to call an end to Saturday night.
Balloons were being popped as the cleanup went on, but popping balloons sound nothing like a gunshot. I’m not buying the "no one knew what was going on story" that Wentzville Police have shared with the world.
Regardless of whether this person has a conceal-and-carry permit, Wentzville authorities should come down on the perpetrator very hard.
There is no room for leniency here.
It shouldn’t matter where—or if—the person goes to church. It shouldn’t matter that they might be a legal gun owner who has never had a gun accident in their life. All that should matter is that he or she could have killed someone. As it turns out, a person was seriously wounded and hospitalized.
I also repeat an earlier thought which should lead to additional zeal in prosecution: A church? Really?
This Wentzville incident has turned out to be much more serious than Burress’ 2008 mishap in New York. But I doubt the “person of interest” serves a day in jail in Missouri.
Commentary by Alvin Reid
