Fatal shooting of 13-year-old Palm City boy likely accidental, authorities say
May 27th, 2011 by TCPalm.comBy Keona Gardner
PALM CITY — Detectives are investigating the shooting death of a 13-year-old boy who authorities suspect shot himself Friday afternoon while showing a gun to a friend, a Martin County Sheriff’s Office news release states.
About 4:42 p.m. Friday, deputies responded to a home on 31st Street in Palm City regarding the report of an accidental shooting.
There, Martin County Fire Rescue found Patrick Appleton, 13, dead from a gunshot wound to the neck, the release states.
A second 13-year-old boy, who is not related to Patrick and does not live in the home, told detectives the two went to the home after school.
Alone in the home, both boys were in the living room until Patrick went to his bedroom, the release states.
A short time later, Patrick returned to the living room with a gun, the boy told detectives.
The witness said Patrick was handling the gun when it discharged, hitting him in the neck. The witness told detectives he called 911 for help.
The witness stated he had only been in the home a short time, having arrived there after school.
The shooting is believed to be accidental and foul play is not suspected, the news release.
Detectives are investigating who owns the gun.
No further information was available Friday evening.
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May 27th, 2011 at 11:35 pm
My thoughts go out to the friend who witnessed this tragic event and to the family of the young man who died. This is exactly why I will NEVER own a gun with two sons in my home. Boys are reckless. Period. You can’t convince me otherwise. No amount of gun safety and exposure to guns can prevent boys from being boys; nor their need to be cool and macho. My sons think I’m crazy b/c I tell them everytime what to do if the friend shows them a gun…LEAVE!
May 28th, 2011 at 7:45 am
too sad,
Just because your a moron doesn’t mean others are also.
My two kids grew up around guns and never touched them without supervision until they were old enough to understand.
But also my kids weren’t latch key kids who came home to an empty house everyday. It was a loving two parent home in which we cared enough about our kids and not ourselves that one stayed home to make sure the kids were attended to and cared for.
Parents today get back the effort they put back into the kids which most of the time is nothing.
May 28th, 2011 at 8:03 am
Why wasn’t the gun in a gun safe or locked up in some other way? AKA: Trigger lock for $6 at local gun store. It’s 100% the parents fault for not securing the weapon from children! This happens all the time where kids get a hold of guns and it is never a good ending. Parents need to be more responsible and should be held accountable! There are many safety tips at kidsandguns.org
May 28th, 2011 at 9:02 am
this was very hard to hear when my sister told me. yes i did know patrick and i also knew lots of kids that were very colse to hime. my prayers go out to his family and friends RIP patrick <3 you will be missed.
May 28th, 2011 at 9:04 am
The parent who own this gun should be sent to jail! I feel for the family but this is murder. How do you leave a loaded gun in the house where your children can easily access it? The kid who witnessed it will be scarred for life.
May 28th, 2011 at 9:10 am
I knew Patrick really well…. I just want to say Patrick why? Why would you? Such a bright boy that had a future and I’m praying for. Patrick I miss you
May 28th, 2011 at 9:36 am
Sympathies to the family and the friend. tragic no matter how it happened. Did you’all miss the sentence where it says “detectives are investigating who owns the gun”? You are assuming it was the parents, but several times I have heard similar tragic stories where the kid found a gun and brought it home. IJS.
And finally, to Leslie. Must be nice to be able to afford to have one parent stay home & not work. But don’t judge other hardworking parents who both have to work to put food on the table. Doesn’t mean they love their kids any less, it just means they have to work more to provide necessities. And I guess you are a mindreader because nowhere does it say he came home to an empty house every day. How do you know Mom wasn’t out buying groceries for dinner? He is 13, certainly old enough to be home for an hour after school alone.
May 28th, 2011 at 9:43 am
To Too Sad: You are a complete moron to have that attitude about guns. My father had several guns when I was growing up but the difference between my father and other people was that my father taught me PROPER handgun safety. That’s what it all boils down to. Treat all firearms as if they were loaded, never point a gun at something that you don’t intend to shoot, and always check to see if a firearm is loaded when you pick it up, and if you don’t know how, hand it back to the person that handed it to you so they can show you. I’ve been handling guns and gun shooting since the age of 10 and have never had an accidental discharge and always held guns with the utmost respect. Maybe if Patrick’s parents would’ve instilled this in him, he’d still be here today. I’m teaching these same valuable lesson to my two children today and I can assure you they’ll know how to properly handle a firearm.
May 28th, 2011 at 9:50 am
I agree with Leslie.I think parents should be more involved with children.As far as the gun goes, we do not know who owns it or how it got there.When the facts of who owns the gun and how it got into the hands of a minor comes about then the law will punish the owner of the gun harshly.Florida law requires that firearms be secured with a locking mechanism or secured in a locked container when minors live in the dwelling.The owner of the gun is looking at about 10 years in prison for failing to secure the weapon, causing a death.
May 28th, 2011 at 9:55 am
Why do people assume that this weapon belonged to a parent? It says in the article that, “Alone in the home, both boys were in the living room until Patrick went to HIS bedroom, the release states.”
May 28th, 2011 at 10:22 am
I am so shocked that people are writing in comments based on the kid and the gun. You have parents that have just lost a son, to a very tragic accident (regardless of whose at fault or how it happened). You should be sharing condolences, not pointing the blame. This is real life and not a “can you guess whose reposnsible movie” Maybe you guys have never loss a child and I pray that you never have to live with that type of pain . My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and each and everyone of you who knew this your man.
May 28th, 2011 at 11:58 am
If you feel you must have a gun, LOCK IT UP!
This child died because he was not properly educated.
Prayers and sympathy for this family.
May 28th, 2011 at 11:59 am
I am a neighbor with a 13yr old that knew Patrick. I need to work in order to pay the premium of living in Palm City so my Children can attend HOMS “A” rated school. The fact is the neighborhood is riddled with violence and drugs and if I could afford to live somewhere else we would. I am angry! My child could have been on the sidewalk outside this home and injured by an accidental bullet. My child could have been exposed to this gun @ the bus stop. The rumor I heard is that the gun gun was given to Patrick as a gift from the parent. Yes, I am angry! I am reserving sympathy for a possible irresponsible parent because the safty of MY children was endangered.
May 28th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
I know for a fact the gun was not given as a gift from the parents, they would never do such a thing. Also, with how the economy is it is rare to see a parent home with the kids all the time. People have to work. He was old enough to be home all alone. Prayers go out to the family and good friends of Patrick. R.I.P
May 28th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
This goes out to the first person who commented under “Too sad”.
You say this is why you will never own a gun because you have 2 boys. Well, here’s what I have to say about that: My dad was never some ignorant dipshit that had a problem with guns. He’s own tons of them over his life, so I’ve been around them. My dad never made the mistake of not showing me how they work either. I know exactly how the gun fires, how to load and fire them, what makes the bullet propel out the barrel, all of it. And you know what? My dad leaves his guns out in the open, on tables and such. I’m 15 years old right now. NEVER have I accidentally fired one of the guns by playing with it.
I laugh at this whole situation, because despite what you think, it’s pretty stupid and careless to discharge a gun accidentally. It’s not some simple thing to do. All you have to do is explain to a kid how it works, and tell them to always be careful around them, and this would never happen.
Your disgust of guns is exactly why if your sons ever were to come across a gun while by themselves they might accidentally kill themselves. Good parenting, ma’am.
May 28th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
I went to school with Patrick. He was a smart and nice friend. And never would have expected this!!
May 28th, 2011 at 8:58 pm
its so sad i knew this kid and i cant blive its real!
May 28th, 2011 at 8:58 pm
its to sad cause i new this kid he was really nice
May 29th, 2011 at 3:44 am
Had a experiance with the mother along time ago her parenting skills are ridiculos and iresponsible
May 29th, 2011 at 6:25 am
Sounds like some irresponsible parents if it was the parents gun they should be tried aceserry to murder !
May 29th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
I TOLD MY TWO YOUNG BOYS THE SAME THING LESLIE TOLD HERS…TO LEAVE IF ONE OF THEIR FRIENDS PRODUCED A GUN.
The other posters above who feel a need to, not only call others degrading names, ‘educate’ young children about lethal weapons and how to be ‘safe’ about it, aren’t rational minded.
I will never forget the time I brought my six and seven year olds to one of their friends house for a play date. I went inside to meet the mother and while sitting there for, maybe five minutes?, the boys went running through the room to the master bedroom and the mother said, “Billy just wants to show them the gun my husband just bought (!!!!!)”. Huh?
Parents, please realize there are LOTS of irresponsible gun owners and you are in your right to educate your children of this fact.
Fellow citizens, you may want to heed this same advice because of the previous statement about irresponsible gun owners.
May 31st, 2011 at 10:42 am
It is a shame that there is already so much to deal with everyday. To leave a gun unlocked or in a place where a child can find it is unheard of. I believe that no matter what the PARENT should be arrested. Some people are too irresponsible to have firearms.
May 31st, 2011 at 5:21 pm
oh patrick why why did u touch that gun alot of people at our school cry for each day for u we miss u bud god be with u
May 31st, 2011 at 9:05 pm
First, my condolences to the family. My youngest cousin was the witness and Patrick’s friend who was with him when this happened. It’s a terrible shame one boy is dead and another is suffering tremendously having witnessed this tragedy and now having to deal with the terrible aftermath, including the disgusting behavior of fellow teens and students. I’m praying for Patrick and his family, as well as my cousin and all Patrick’s friends.
June 1st, 2011 at 5:38 am
Im hoping the police do there job and get these disgusting parents procecuted
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