November 1, 2011
By Gerran Thomas, WPSDLocal6.com
MCCRACKEN COUNTY, Ky. — Deputies have issued a stern warning to
their community after stray bullets hit two local homes.
"Treat every weapon like it's loaded," said McCracken County
Chief Deputy Mike Turnbow. "Keep your finger off the trigger till
you are ready to shoot.
Make sure you know what your backstop is and that your backstop will
stop that particular round."
That's advice Turnbow said can't be repeated enough after bullets
ended up where they don't belong: inside local homes.
It's happened not once but twice in just the past week.
On Oct. 23, deputies said a bullet hit a home on Ted Williams Road
in McCracken County.
The bullet went through a bedroom window and into a wall.
Then, four days later, another bullet hit a different home.
Deputies said around 7 p.m., a 30-caliber bullet went through the
kitchen window at a home on Fieldmont Drive, also in McCracken
County.
Fortunately, no one was hurt in either incident.
But deputies and local families said the accidents should serve as a
timely reminder to think and stay safe.
It happened almost a week ago but Linda Tutor remembered it like it
were yesterday.
"It took away my feeling of tranquility and security in my own
house," she said. "It was shocking."
She and her husband Jimmy were relaxing at home when the evening
took a dramatic turn.
"All of a sudden, we hear this loud crash," she remembered. "We
didn't know what it is for a minute. It's sort of shocking."
The two came into the kitchen and saw white plastic on the floor,
shattered glass and hole in the blind.
"When I looked and saw the hole in the window, it was just obvious
that it was a bullet hole."
Tutor said the bullet hit too close for comfort.
The bullet came through the window, hit a chair at the dinner table
and then fell on the floor.
Deputies said it is likely the end result of a hunting accident gone
wrong.
The Tutors estimate the shot was fired about three to five miles
away, somewhere in the direction of nearby woods.
Sheriff's deputies said because there was no damage to the bullet,
it was not deflected or knocked off course and pictures of damage
like that done to the Tutors home should serve as a warning for all
shooters.
"Once the trigger is pulled, there is no power on earth that can
pull that bullet back and it will destroy whatever it hits," Chief
Deputy Turnbow said.
With deer hunting season just around the corner, sheriff's deputies
and gun enthusiasts said safety can't be stressed enough.
LYNN MCCUTCHEN, OWNER SHOOTER'S SUPPLY TC:24:34 "You've got to know
what's behind what you're shooting at and then have something there
to stop that bullet from continuing on," said Lynn McCutchen, the
owner of Shooter's Supply.
McCutchen recommends sighting your gun at a shooting range so
bullets don't end up where they don't belong.
The Tutors take comfort knowing the damage wasn't any worse and hope
caution and good sense keeps it from happening again.
Sheriff's deputies said shooters can be held criminally liable if
bullets fired from a gun hurt or kill someone accidentally.
