Mom charged in son's shooting of neighbor

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PLACERVILLE, Calif., Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A California mother whose son allegedly fatally shot a 10-year-old playmate with a pellet gun pleaded not guilty to felony child abuse and endangerment.

The El Dorado County District Attorney's Office filed a criminal complaint Nov. 27 against Carmel Nicole Cobabe. Her son was holding a pellet gun when it went off, a pellet striking the boy's neighbor and playmate, Keegan Swinney, in the torso, killing him, The Sacramento Bee reported Wednesday.

The newspaper noted that although pellet gun accidents are common in California, deaths are not.

The criminal complaint alleges Cobabe was responsible for the circumstances leading to the boy's shooting, but her attorney, Mike Wise, said she was not at home when the incident occurred, having left the boy in his father's care.

Wise added the case is in its early stages, but said, "In my view, this case is extraordinary, bordering on unique. I hope that when we get all the facts from both sides, we can explain why the case should be dismissed."