3-year-old fires gun and kills granddad
Southport man was taking loaded pistol to gun range
By Millard K. Ives
Staff Writer
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A gun enthusiast died Saturday after his 3-year-old grandson accidentally shot him with a pistol at the man's Southport home.
Jeffery Tobias Shaw, 40, died at New Hanover Regional Medical Center after being taken off life support.
"It was a freak accident," said his wife, Teresa.
His wife said Mr. Shaw was preparing to go a local gun range Friday and had put a loaded handgun in his vehicle. While Mr. Shaw was standing in his Stuart Avenue yard, his grandson picked up the gun and shot him once in the head.
Mrs. Shaw said that her only grandchild has a number of toy guns and didn't know the difference between those and real ones.
Law enforcement officials could not be reached for comment over the weekend.
No charges had been filed by Sunday, said Robert Gandy, Southport city manager.
"He was a fine man," said Mrs. Shaw, who had been married to Mr. Shaw for 19 years.
Mr. Shaw was a member of the National Rifle Association and a local gun club, Mrs. Shaw said.
He also was a member of Southport Baptist Church and was involved with a number of youth groups.
"He was a very Christian and community-oriented man who would go out of his way to get involved," said Mayor Norman Holden, who served on the church usher board with Mr. Shaw.