Man shoots son-in-law dead after he jumped out of bushes for 'birthday surprise'
www.mirror.co.uk
A man shot and killed his son-and-law who he leapt out of the bushes after travelling 4,500 miles to surprise him on his birthday.
Richard Dennis, 61, shot Christopher Bergan, 37, outside his Florida home after his son-in-law had travelled from Norway to the US to surprise him.
Police in the state won't charge the father-in-law - calling it a "horrible accident".
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson instead asked people to pray for the family following Tuesday's tragedy.
Johnson told a news conference that Bergan had flown from Norway on October 1 to surprise his wife's dad for his birthday, and arrived late at night.
Richard Dennis will not face charges after opening fire on his son-in-law in what police have called a 'tragic accident' (Image: Facebook)
Christopher Bergan and his wife, Richard Dennis' daughter (Image: Facebook)
Unbeknown to him, earlier in the evening, Dennis told police someone a relative had started banged on the front door around 9.30pm, startling him. At that point he "ran the person off," police told media.
Burgan then banged on Dennis' back door around 11.30pm.
The older man heard the noise, turned on the porch light and stepped out.
When he opened it, Johnson said Bergan leapt out of the shadows "scaring" his father-in-law.
Dennis fired one round, killing him instantly, Johnson said.
When emergency services arrived they found family members trying desperately to give Burgan first aid and stop the bleeding.
Johnson said: "Our investigation has revealed that this was totally accidental. It was a really sad occurrence and that no charges were warranted in this case."
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson told a news conference the shooting was a tragic accident (Image: ABC News)
Another police officer who responded to the scene added that investigators that it was "simply a tragic accident."
However a friend of the victim described him as a victim of America's "gun culture."
In a Facebook post, he wrote that he himself owned guns for hunting and home defense but said he worried about the celebration of guns.
Neil Tucker wrote: "Celebrating them can give a false sense of entitlement of shoot first ask questions later. Maybe not for YOU, but for many people involved in gun culture.
"My childhood buddy, Chris Bergan, was killed accidentally by a family member. He had no idea he was shooting his son-in-law.
"I’m convinced gun culture has everything to do with this tragedy. Please think about the way you talk about guns and consider dropping the gun pride. Teach your kids they are tools not toys."
www.mirror.co.uk
A man shot and killed his son-and-law who he leapt out of the bushes after travelling 4,500 miles to surprise him on his birthday.
Richard Dennis, 61, shot Christopher Bergan, 37, outside his Florida home after his son-in-law had travelled from Norway to the US to surprise him.
Police in the state won't charge the father-in-law - calling it a "horrible accident".
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson instead asked people to pray for the family following Tuesday's tragedy.
Johnson told a news conference that Bergan had flown from Norway on October 1 to surprise his wife's dad for his birthday, and arrived late at night.
Unbeknown to him, earlier in the evening, Dennis told police someone a relative had started banged on the front door around 9.30pm, startling him. At that point he "ran the person off," police told media.
Burgan then banged on Dennis' back door around 11.30pm.
The older man heard the noise, turned on the porch light and stepped out.
When he opened it, Johnson said Bergan leapt out of the shadows "scaring" his father-in-law.
Dennis fired one round, killing him instantly, Johnson said.
When emergency services arrived they found family members trying desperately to give Burgan first aid and stop the bleeding.
Johnson said: "Our investigation has revealed that this was totally accidental. It was a really sad occurrence and that no charges were warranted in this case."
Another police officer who responded to the scene added that investigators that it was "simply a tragic accident."
However a friend of the victim described him as a victim of America's "gun culture."
In a Facebook post, he wrote that he himself owned guns for hunting and home defense but said he worried about the celebration of guns.
Neil Tucker wrote: "Celebrating them can give a false sense of entitlement of shoot first ask questions later. Maybe not for YOU, but for many people involved in gun culture.
"My childhood buddy, Chris Bergan, was killed accidentally by a family member. He had no idea he was shooting his son-in-law.
"I’m convinced gun culture has everything to do with this tragedy. Please think about the way you talk about guns and consider dropping the gun pride. Teach your kids they are tools not toys."
