[DiamondSmiles]

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PA Woman Shined Light For Son as They Mistook Girl in Halloween Costume For Skunk, Shot Her

Published October 22, 2012

ROCHESTER, PA – A woman hosting a Halloween party shined a light for her son to help him shoot what they thought was a skunk but was really his 8-year-old cousin in a black-and-white costume, police said.

The girl, who was hit in the shoulder, arm, back and neck, was hospitalized Monday in critical condition following Saturday night's shooting in Rochester, a rural area about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh where firearms and hunting are common.

The woman hosting the party, Janet Grant, told police officers someone told her at around 8:30 p.m. there was a skunk nearby and she asked her son to shoot it, New Sewickley Township police Chief Ronald Leindecker said Monday, according to the Beaver County Times.

The son, 24-year-old Thomas Grant, grabbed a shotgun while his mother pointed the beam of a flashlight at a nearby hillside, Leindecker said. Grant spotted what he thought was a skunk under a tree and fired, the chief said, but then he heard a scream from his cousin.

The girl was wearing a black body costume and a black hat with a white tassel.

People who live in the quiet country neighborhood said neither Grant nor his family had ever caused problems.

"Nobody can really understand it," said Dan Reese, who lives next door to the house where Grant fired the shotgun.

But Reese said Grant shouldn't have been shooting at that time of night or near other houses.

"He knows better," Reese told The Associated Press.

The Grant house sits of the side of a small hill, and at least two other houses appear to be within 100 yards. That could be important because it is a violation of state hunting regulations to shoot a firearm within a 150-yard safety zone around another occupied residence.

State officials also say that while it is legal to hunt skunks and to hunt them at night, that requires what is known as a furtaker license. It's unknown if Grant had one.

Leindecker said a "thorough investigation" is under way and no charges had been filed. No one answered the door of the Grant house on Monday afternoon.

Investigators haven't released the identity of the girl, who was flown to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. A spokeswoman there declined to comment on her condition.

Reese said the girl may have been lucky because local nurses apparently were with her when she was shot.

*They must have some big ass skunks in Rochester! Poor little girl! I wasn't going to post this, but, I finally read the entire article.*

October 26, 2012

Twenty-four-year-old Thomas Edward Grant of Jackson Center, Mercer County, was charged today with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and simple assault.

The girl was hit in the shoulder, arm, back and neck on Saturday night. She is in a critical condition in hospital.

Police say the girl was playing hide-and-seek behind the Grant family's home when she was shot once with a 12-gauge shotgun.
She was wearing a black body costume and a black hat with a white feather.

[Megamel29]

How did she get shot in four places if he only shot once? Is this a gun with the kind of bullet that breaks up? I don't know much about guns. Also, why was it decided that the skunk would be shot at? I would be concerned that shooting at the skunk and missing it or injuring but not killing it would make it spray. How did they mistake this child for a skunk? I don't care that she was wearing black and white. She is way bigger than a skunk. Wth?

[irbaboon88]

totally agree this peace of shit lyer needs to be put behind bars no excuse to shoot a 9 yo girl is 5 times the size of a skunk

[DiamondSmiles]

Originally Posted by Megamel29 ↗

How did she get shot in four places if he only shot once? Is this a gun with the kind of bullet that breaks up? I don't know much about guns. Also, why was it decided that the skunk would be shot at? I would be concerned that shooting at the skunk and missing it or injuring but not killing it would make it spray. How did they mistake this child for a skunk? I don't care that she was wearing black and white. She is way bigger than a skunk. Wth?

I noticed that conflict in the story, too, Meg - one shot, but, four wounds! I think he changed his story, but, he can't change the evidence in the girl's body.

That was my first thought!

I have never seen a skunk almost 4 feet tall, judging by my great niece's height!

I'm glad he got charged, the dumb ass!

[Azimuth]

Originally Posted by Megamel29 ↗

How did she get shot in four places if he only shot once? Is this a gun with the kind of bullet that breaks up? I don't know much about guns. Also, why was it decided that the skunk would be shot at? I would be concerned that shooting at the skunk and missing it or injuring but not killing it would make it spray. How did they mistake this child for a skunk? I don't care that she was wearing black and white. She is way bigger than a skunk. Wth?

Shotgun shells are full of pellets. The pattern is big, not like a bullet hole.

[Azimuth]

And not for a fucking second do I believe he thought she was a goddammed skunk. There's just no way that someone could be that stupid. Please, God, don't let that be possible, right?

[Megamel29]

Originally Posted by azimuth ↗

Shotgun shells are full of pellets. The pattern is big, not like a bullet hole.

I was thinking maybe that was what happened. But I don't know much about guns and I didn't want to assume. Thanks for letting me know :-)

[Wolf]

That stinks, hopefully soon he'll be the one wearing stripes.

[DiamondSmiles]

If you can't get a scary skunk with one shot, you shouldn't be out there shooting in the first place.

Why do I picture him, (and I wish I had one of him), in court saying, "Well, mama told me to shoot it?" Looking like the hillbilly from, "The Simpsons".

[Cumulonimbus]

I lived in Beaver County for several years. This story does not surprise in the least.