Fatal mistake: 15-year-old boy dies after accidentally shooting himself in the chest

A 15-year-old boy in Clinton County, Pennsylvania died last Tuesday after accidentally shooting himself in the chest with an air rifle.

Police say Tristin ‘Ty’ Yonkin was at a friends home in Porter Township Tuesday afternoon when he accidentally shot an air rifle into his chest. Police have ruled the death accidental.

Yonkin had just finished his sophomore year of high school where he played soccer, ran track and was a member of the year book club.

‘Ty was a good friend, a good player, a great student and his family will miss him. So will the team,’ Ty’s soccer coach Jeff Brinker told WTAJ.’He brought a lot to the community.’

Neighbor Alicia Farrington remarked on the tragedy to WNEP: ‘He has everything to live for and it was cut short with a little accident.’

Farrington didn’t even know it was possible to be fatally wounded by an air rifle.

‘I didn’t think someone would pass away from a hit with a pellet gun,’ she said.

But according to two local gun shop owners, the dangers of pellet guns are real.

‘That’s the exact key word, gun. Whether it’s a real gun, soft air, it’s a gun,’ Thomas Engle, owner of Hunter Warehouse Gun Shop in Bellefonte said. ‘It does fire projectile. Any weapon that fires projectile can be dangerous. It’s not a toy. it has to be handled properly, safely. Parents should have supervision for their children that are using them.’

Only 15: Yonkin had just finished his sophomore year of high school, where he played soccer and ran trackOnly 15: Yonkin had just finished his sophomore year of high school, where he played soccer and ran track

 

Summer break: Yonkin was spending the afternoon at his friend's house in Porter Township, above, when the accidental shooting happenedSummer break: Yonkin was spending the afternoon at his friend’s house in Porter Township, above, when the accidental shooting happened

 

Remembered: Yonkin's parents held a memorial for their son on Friday at his high school. They plan to start a soccer scholarship in his nameRemembered: Yonkin’s parents held a memorial for their son on Friday at his high school. They plan to start a soccer scholarship in his name

 

Not toys: Local gun shop owners say that modern air rifles are more dangerous than you would thinkNot toys: Local gun shop owners say that modern air rifles are more dangerous than you would think

Adam Kordes, owner of National Sporting Goods in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania said most people are unaware just how fast pellet guns can shoot.

‘It’s not uncommon anymore to see pellet guns that shoot 1200, 1500, 1600 feet per second, which a lot of people don’t realize is significantly faster than a standard velocity 22 long rifle,’ Kordes said.

Yonkin’s family held a memorial for Ty on Friday at his high school, Central Mountain, near Mill Hall, Pennsylvania. They are also setting up a soccer scholarship in his name.

Read more: Daily Mail

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