Youth Shot in Face by Accident
A 20-year-old man showing off a .22-caliber rifle to a group of friends Sunday accidentally shot a 17-year-old boy in the face, critically injuring him, authorities said.
The unidentified victim, a resident of West Hills, was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he underwent a CAT scan to determine if the bullet had penetrated his brain, said Lt. Jeff Hulet of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Russel Rayburn was booked on suspicion of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, Hulet said. Possession of such a weapon is a felony.
Rayburn was at his parents’ house in the 6700 block of Royar Avenue showing the gun to about half a dozen friends when the accident occurred about 2:50 p.m., Hulet said.
Witnesses told police Rayburn was “horsing around with the rifle,” pointing it at different people in the room before the accident, Hulet said.
Hulet said the injured boy was shot from a distance of 10 to 12 feet, adding: “He’s very lucky to be alive.”
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