Man Kills Nephew while Demonstrating Laser Sight

A 34-year-old Delaware Township man shot and killed his 11-year-old nephew while demonstrating a laser sight by pointing it at the boy’s forehead.

Chad Olm, who lived in his father’s basement, had invited his nephew to see his gun collection.

Olm told police that he opened his gun safe to show the weapons to his nephew and his own son.

He said that he did not keep the guns loaded.

After letting the boys handle three other handguns, including a .357 Magnum, he showed them a Glock handgun equipped with a laser sight.

Olm said that he didn’t check to see if there was a round in the Glock’s chamber, but he did say that it did not have a magazine in it.

When he pointed it at his nephew’s forehead, the boy reached for the gun. Olm pulled the trigger and the gun fired, striking the child above the eye and killing him.

Olm was arrested on charges of criminal homicide, recklessly endangering another person, and endangering the welfare of children.

ANew York Times report on child firearms deaths found that the actual rate of accidental shootings was about twice as high as stated in official reports.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2011 there were an estimated 847 unintentional non-fatal firearms injuries among children age 14 and under.

Only 20 states have laws that hold adults criminally liable if they fail to store guns safely and children get access to them.

Intentional shooting deaths of children – including gang shootings and murder-suicides by family members – are even more prevalent than accidental deaths.

Males are almost always the shooters, and boys are 80% of the victims. Handguns were used in about 60% of the shootings.

If you have a gun in your house, be sure that it is stored securely – especially if there are children present.

If you or a family member has been injured because of the negligent use or storage of a firearm, contact an experienced personal injury attorney at the New Jersey Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C.