Probation in shooting of costumed Pa. child
BEAVER (AP) – A Western Pennsylvania man has been placed on two years’ probation in the shooting of a costumed child that police said he mistook for an animal.
The Beaver County Times says 25-year-old Thomas Grant of Rochester pleaded no contest Monday to misdemeanor simple assault and reckless endangerment counts.
An aggravated assault charge in the October shooting of the 8-year-old girl at a Halloween party in New Sewickley was dismissed in February.
Grant was also ordered to pay restitution to the family of the victim. His attorney characterized the shooting as a “tragic accident.”
Police said the child was in a black costume with a white feather or tassel on her hat, and Grant thought she was a skunk.
His hunting privileges have also been revoked during his probation.