CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — A 19-year-old man has life-threatening injuries Wednesday night after he accidentally shot himself at a private shooting range in Catawba County.
Deputies told Channel 9 that Joshua Camp was getting his AR-15 out of the back of his SUV at the shooting range on Flame View Avenue near Hickory. He accidentally shot himself once in the chest.
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"He was taught gun safety at a very young age with very limited access to firearms," father Christopher Camp said.
His father, who spoke with Channel 9 by phone Thursday from the hospital, said his son told him before surgery he wasn't the one who removed the weapon from the SUV.
Deputies said Camp had gone to the private range with another teenager and 23-year-old.
"He apologized for what happened and basically did say it wasn't him. He wasn't handling a gun. He didn't have a gun in his hand at all,” Christopher Camp said.
Deputies said their investigation is ongoing and they have not been able to interview the 19-year0old because of his serious injuries.
Sheriff Coy Reid said private gun ranges are legal as long as they are located at least 500-feet from someone else's building.
Reid believes the shooting was an accident and says what happened is important reminder to all owners about gun safety.
"Just remember all your safety rules while handling a firearm. Treat all firearms as if they are loaded,” Reid said.
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