Police chief claims innocence in gun death

PELHAM, Mass., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts police chief accused of furnishing an Uzi submachine gun to an 8-year-old boy who died while firing it says he's not guilty of manslaughter.

Attorneys for Pelham, Mass., Police Chief Edward Fleury entered a not guilty plea Monday to charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Christopher Bizilj, 8, of Ashford, Conn., the Springfield (Mass.) Republican reported.

Prosecutors say the boy died when he lost control of a Micro Uzi submachine pistol given him to fire by Fluery in his capacity as owner of COP Firearms & Training Co., which was sponsoring a gun show at the Westfield Sportsman's Club in Springfield.

When asked for comment, Fluery's attorney, David Kuzmeski, said he did not want to try the case in the press, but did characterize the boy's death as "a horrible, horrible accident."

Massachusetts State Rep. Michael Costello, co-chairman of the state House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, told the newspaper new rules are needed to rein in gun club events that feature automatic weapons and that he would support a bill to ban anyone younger than 21 from firing an automatic weapon.