BELLA VISTA — An accidental shooting Oct. 26 sent a 12-year-old Bella Vista boy to the hospital where he was treated and released.
Police Chief Ken Farmer reported Dean Russo, 44, said he was going out to shoot his dog because it would not stop barking. The rifle he was carrying accidentally discharged before Russo stepped outside; the bullet went through a wall and grazed the sleeping boy.
The shooting occurred about 11:30 p.m.,
Russo, of Bella Vista, received a misdemeanor citation for endangering the welfare of a minor and discharging a firearm within city limits, Farmer said.
“It was purely an accident,” Farmer said. “It did not rise to the level of a felony offense.”
The child was taken by private vehicle to Northwest Medical Center. Hospital personnel contacted the Bentonville Police Department, who then called the Bella Vista Police at 12:48 a.m., Farmer said.
“It was extremely lucky it was not worse than it was,” Farmer said.