DECATUR, Ala., Jan. 21 (UPI) -- No charges are planned against a Decatur, Ala., woman who says she held a gun when it accidentally went off, killing her teenage son, police said Tuesday.
Cynthia Bowman told police she was holding a .380 semi-automatic pistol that was having mechanical issues at her home when it fired without the trigger being moved early Monday morning, Lt. John Crouch of the Decatur Police Department said.
A single bullet struck her son, Kendrick Bowman Jr., 17, in the head. He died at Huntsville Hospital Monday afternoon, the Alabama news website al.com reported.
"His mother fired the shot accidentally, according to all witnesses. Everyone present said it was accidental, and the family is cooperating fully," Crouch said, adding the family told police the gun had previously malfunctioned by firing without anyone pulling the trigger.
"At this time we don't have any plans to bring charges against Mrs. Bowman," Crouch said.
