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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Northern Idaho man charged with injuring boy in shooting

Associated Press

SANDPOINT – A northern Idaho man has been charged after he accidentally shot a boy while target practicing last year, authorities said.

A judge released Brandon Guy Bowman on personal recognizance Thursday after he turned himself in to Bonner County authorities, the Bonner County Daily Bee reported.

The 44-year-old Elmira resident was charged with injuring another person by discharging a firearm and with felony unlawful possession of a firearm due to a 2007 assault conviction in Washington state, according to court documents.

Bowman shot the boy in the face in May, but the injury was initially reported as being caused by a motorcycle crash, according to the documents. The injury was a nearly 3-inch (7-centimer) grazing wound that extended from below the boy’s chin to the side of his neck.

The child’s mother did not believe Bowman’s explanation because the boy did not have other injuries, according to the documents. Bowman’s story began to unravel earlier this month after Bonner County deputies interviewed witnesses who said the boy was accidentally shot and not involved in a crash.

Bowman likely gave the false explanation because his prior conviction barred him from possessing a gun, authorities said.

Bowman told the court that he would likely seek private defense counsel.

A charge of discharging a firearm is a misdemeanor offense that is punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail, according to state law.