Last Updated: Tuesday, 12:48 p.m.
Note: An account and audio of the 911 call are posted here.
An 18-year-old Palm Coast resident shot in the chest Tuesday afternoon with an AK-47 at a house on Parkview Drive, across the street from Wadsworth Elementary, in an apparent accident. The school by then had let out, though the nearby playing field was cleared of people to enable an emergency helicopter to land and evacuate the victim.
The victim was identified as Shane Huber.
“We transported somebody that was shot in the chest,” Don Petito, Flagler County’s fire chief, said, noting that as of now the shooting is believed to have happened with a long rifle. The weapon turned out to be an AK-47 the sheriff’s office identified as a Romanian-made .762X39 mm rifle. The AK-47 is the world’s most popular assault weapon. Bullets have a range of up to 1,000 yards.
Paramedics initially believed Huber was 17. Sheriff’s investigators later said he is 18. Huber was stable as he was being evacuated, ranking 15 out of 15 on the GCS, or Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), with 15 being the better end of the scale. At close to 8 p.m., the sheriff’s office was listing his condition as “unknown at this time.”
“The victim apparently was in possession of some type of long rifle,” Cmdr. Steve Cole, who heads the sheriff’s investigative division, said at 6 p.m. in an interview. “He was showing it to his friend, his friend thought it was unloaded and pulled the trigger and shot his friend.” The friend is Brandon Williamson, also 18.
The shooting took place inside the house at 4:11 p.m. at 364 Parkvew, the last house on the north side of the street before it intersects with Belle Terre Parkway. The house is directly across from the car riders’ lines in the north parking lot of Wadsworth Elementary. The house is not homesteaded and belongs to owners who live in Pennsylvania.
Tuesday, the sheriff’s office released a fuller incident report on the shooting. It indicates that Williamson answered the door when deputies first arrived (and secured a dog that wa sin the house). “Shane Huber was observed to be alert and consci[ous], lying prone on his back on the living room floor. The[] firearm that Brandon advised Shane was shot with was located on the living room floor near Shane, with the magazine next to it. Deputy [Alfonzo] Dillard applied basic medical attention to Shane until medical personnel took over. Brandon was told to be seated against the wall and was later moved into the kitchen area while medical personnel were attending to Shane.”
The report continues, referring to the landing zone in the nearby playing field that had been designated for Flagler County Fire Flight, the emergency helicopter, for Huber’s evacuation: “I spoke with Shane while enroute to the landing zone and he advised that Brandon and he took the firearm out of Shane’s room into the living room to look at ‘the internals.’ Shane then went back into his bedroom and upon walking back out, he ‘heard a bang.’ When asked if he saw how Brandon was holding the firearm, he advised that he was looking at his feet. Shane further advised that they had not been arguing and that they are best friends. Shane stated that he smoked marijuana, but Brandon did not.”
Huber then asked that his aunt on Palm Coast’s Pepperdine Drive be contacted and informed of the incident. Huber’s aunt then contacted Huber’s father, who said he’d respond directly to the hospital in Daytona Beach.
After the shooting, Williamson sat outside the house, guarded or looked over by one or two deputies, for 20 to 30 minutes until he was driven away in an unmarked law enforcement vehicle at 5 p.m., going north on Belle Terre Parkway. Williamson was not in any form of restraints, but his hands were bloody. Cole said he was taken to a different location for questioning, but was not under arrest.
The house itself was rimmed with yellow crime-scene tape as several detectives and deputies milled about inside and outside the tape perimeter.
Huber, who has attended Palm Coast High School, had only a single visible “like” on his Facebook page Tuesday: for Mikhail Kalashnikov, the late Soviet general who designed the AK-47, for whom the weapon is named. Williamson’s Facebook page features memes derogatory to law enforcement or government, images of weapons or posing with weapons, and numerous memes derogatory of gun control. His profile picture, changed last October, shows Williamson in nature in the foreground with a broad smile while a man is keeled over in the brush, face down, in the background. The image appears to have been taken at a Civil War reenactment battle. Tuesday morning, after a Jonathan Williamson, through a Facebook message, threatened FlaglerLive with a lawsuit over the descriptions of the Facebook page items, most of the page–preserved in a capture here–was removed from public view.
Though no charges have been filed, the sheriff’s office says if anyone has information about this incident, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-8477. You may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
Angela says
While regular school hours were over there were still several groups of children still in the school – chorus, tutoring and homework assistance groups and perhaps others. I was in the parking lot while all of the emergency personnel were arriving and was surprised that the children, including walkers, were released at the end of chorus at 4:15 and homework assistance at 4:30. Tutoring is excused a little bit later. Kudos to the police and fire departments for their efficient and calm response to the shooting but the drivers in the area need a refresher course on appropriate response to emergency vehicles and the direction given by those directing traffic.
cindy says
Who needs an AK47 in their house with young men around? If your going to keep a high-powered weapon like that you need to keep it under lock and key. I’m a gun advocate, but this is total disrespect of a killer weapon! Maybe teach the people in your house gun respect. This a tragic preventable accident.
Kyle says
Jesus, one look at these kids Facebook pages and you see how this outcome was inevitable. I really hope the kid makes it but the way they glorify anything gun related makes me wonder if they will even learn a lesson here.
hello says
WHAT IS GOING ON? FIRST OF ALL WHY DO CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO A HIGH POWER RIFLE. I’M SO BAFFLED I CANNOT EVEN SPEAK.
just me says
No CHILDREN where involved.
Chuck says
This is a case of neglect and not understanding proper gun handling and safety.
Noel says
I know Brandon in person–this article portrays him in a bad light, but he is a genuinely good individual. Shane is his best friend, and they were probably just goofing off. This was a horrible accident.
AceDeadEyeJohnson says
A note to cmdr Coles statement of unaswered question’s…..An AK47 is only illegal if it is stolen or in possession of a felon…..
Crow Eater says
I bet that hurt like hell, luckily he survived cause that’s one nasty round.
Anonymous says
There is no good reason that I can think of why an 18 year old or 17 year old should be playing around with an assault weapon. America’s love affair with guns leads to this kind of inevitable result.
just me says
True there is no reason for them to have been “playing” around with it. its not the fault of our Constitution that this happened but the two dumb asses who did not use proper care with it.
MATT says
I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT WHEN THIS ALL WENT DOWN . I do belive that the gun shouldve been locked up . the police andparamedics handled the problem fast and calmly . Im a gun ad vocate my self but the gun shoudve been locked up. when ever somebody gets shot its all ways the same thing “i thought it was unloaded ” the one thing my dad ever told me ws always think the gun is loaded. I
Pro 2A says
They aren’t children, you can legally own/posses/buy a rifle at the age of 18, it’s a case of poor gun safety an being stupid. An AK-47 isn’t a “killer weapon” or a “high powered rifle”… It’s a firearm an should be treated like one. Any rifle bigger than a .22LR or .17HMR can be considered a high powered rifle.
“Oh my god we need gun control” …… Not the case.
Rule Number 1: NEVER point a firearm at anything that you do not plan on shooting. Hence in a safe direction at all times…
Rule Number 2 : Always treat a firearm as if it is loaded.
The list goes on…
I hope he is ok and makes a fast recovery.
THREEEIGHTY says
quit reffering to them as children…..they are 18 and adults perfectly capable of purchasing this firearm on their own terms.
Michael says
Guns are not toys, if you display or show a weapon insure that is not loaded, it is solely your responsibility to ensure the safety of those around you. If you cannot handle a weapon correctly you do not deserve to own one, mandatory age should be 25 before you can own any gun. People like this give those responsible gun owners a bad name.
Pro 2A says
I strongly disagree on a age requirement of 25, there are plenty of adults who are under 25 who are responsible enough to own and respect firearms. I think there should be a mandatory gun safety course in order to own a firearm.
Anonymous says
NOPE not for it we need ONE age of adulthood in this Nation. its 18 for legal documents and most other things,21 to have a beer and you are a kid till 26 on 0bama care. when do we say you are your responsibility and are your own person?
ohrin says
Guns are not to be played with in any fashion, treat every gun as if it were loaded. This kid is here today for a reason, hope he finds his purpose.
anon says
Thank you for everyone that said they aren’t kids ad that they can buy the rifle!
YankeeExPat says
Age 24 is when the male brain is fully developed. That’s thar your problem , Oh Danny Boy!
THE VOICE OF REASON says
When I was 16 — 45 years ago — a friend was showing me his dad’s shotgun.
He pointed it at me and reached for the trigger, playfully telling me not to worry because his dad never kept it loaded. I swatted it away just as he pulled the trigger — and blew the crap out of his mother’s favorite lamp!!! Would have been my head.
Every gun is loaded.
Always.
Just Saying says
“After the shooting, Williamson sat outside the house, guarded or looked over by one or two deputies, for 20 to 30 minutes until he was driven away in an unmarked law enforcement vehicle at 5 p.m., going north on Belle Terre Parkway. Williamson was not in any form of restraints, but his hands were bloody. Cole said he was taken to a different location for questioning, but was not under arrest”
I have a question, in the photo it clearly looks to me like he has handcuffs on?
Just Saying says
Guess they are his black wrist bands.
.
jenn says
Well maybe, if he wasn’t smoking pot he might of remembered to check. Hmmm, guns and drugs withen so many feet of the school. I know that kid, they used to live next door. Always playing with guns and knives. And always have been unsupervised. Flagler live you should check his parents criminal history. Hopefully this won’t happen again. Hopefully they won’t get the weapon back. Not good.