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Man shoots teen, appears to be accidental

SHADYSIDE — A man who apparently was involved in an accidental shooting Saturday had his day in court this week.

Michael Christy, 27, of Shadyside, appeared in Belmont County Eastern Division Court on Tuesday. Belmont County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan said Christy faced a charge of recklessly causing serious physical harm to another, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Christy had been booked into the Belmont County Jail at 11:04 a.m. Saturday. He posted $1,500 bond Sunday and was released, according to jail records. Flanagan was not sure if Christy entered a plea Tuesday, and other court officials could not be reached for comment.

The Shadyside Police Department received reports of a shooting at the York Terrace Apartments around 7:40 p.m. Saturday. Officer Brad Mackey responded and found Christy, a 27-year-old Shadyside resident, outside of his apartment applying pressure to the chest of a 16-year-old male from Powhatan Point.

Shadyside Police Chief Donald Collette later issued a news release that states Christy explained that, while showing off his new gun, he had accidentally discharged a round that struck the juvenile and traveled through the boy’s chest into drywall behind him. Christy had been drinking alcohol prior to the incident, Collette stated.

Shadyside Assistant Police Chief Jeff Loeffler said the incident is believed to have been an accident.

“We do believe that it was just an accident, an unfortunate one,” Loeffler said, “and unless other evidence turns up or we discover the handling of the firearm is different than what was stated, then it was an accident.”

According to Flanagan, the prosecutor’s office also believes Christy was showing off a gun to the boy when the gun accidentally discharged.

“It’s our understanding that (Christy) did not believe it was loaded,” Flanagan said.

Loeffler added that Christy told Mackey that “when he hit the slide lock release, and the slide went forward, it went off and fired a round.” Officers arrested Christy on charges of negligent assault and assault, recklessly causing serious physical harm, according to the release.

Doctors at Wheeling Hospital stabilized the juvenile for a flight to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. Loeffler said that as of Monday, the boy remained in critical condition. No additional updates regarding his condition were available.

Loeffler said that he and the Shadyside Police Department are very grateful for the assistance provided by the Bellaire Police Department at the time of the incident.

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