NH man shot in head by 8-year-old nephew who was shooting chipmunks

MILTON, N.H. — A New Hampshire man was accidentally shot in the head after a bullet fired by his 8-year-old nephew ricocheted while they were shooting chipmunks, authorities said.

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The 32-year-old man sustained non-life-threatening injuries from the Friday morning shooting in Milton and was taken to an area hospital, Foster’s Daily Democrat of Dover reported. The man is expected to recover, the newspaper reported.

Investigators determined that the man and his nephew were shooting chipmunks with a .22 caliber rifle when a bullet ricocheted after killing a chipmunk, striking the man in the head, the Daily Democrat reported.

Milton Police Chief Richard Krauss said no charges would be filed, and called it a “truly just a freak accident,” The Associated Press reported.

“It’s not against the law for anyone to teach a child how to shoot and take them hunting, even at 8 years old,” Krauss told the Daily Democrat. “There are kids who learn how to hunt and shoot a lot younger than that. This was truly just a freak accident.

“Ricochets do happen. I have seen where a bullet can come back and strike you. Ricochets can happen even if you shoot into the ground if you hit a rock.”

In New Hampshire, hunters under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a licensed adult 18 or older, according to the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department.

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