Additional Coverage:
- Colorado teen shot in the face after going to home to ask permission to take homecoming photos (nbcnews.com)
In Jefferson County, Colorado, a 17-year-old boy was shot in the face by a town councilman on Tuesday while seeking permission to take homecoming photos on private property, according to local law enforcement.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Pleasant Park Road. Deputies responding to the scene found the teenager bleeding heavily, with a second juvenile administering first aid by applying pressure with a t-shirt, the county sheriff’s office reported. The injured teenager is now recovering.
The alleged shooter, Brent Metz, 38, was arrested and identified as a town council member from Mountain View. Metz faces serious charges, including first-degree assault, felony menacing, illegal discharge of a firearm, and reckless endangerment. As of now, it is unclear whether he has legal representation.
According to the sheriff’s office, the property owner, a woman who was not present during the incident, had initially reported two trespassers to the authorities and contacted her boyfriend, Metz. Metz drove to the scene and allegedly blocked the teens’ vehicle from leaving, then exited his own vehicle and fired a shot through the car’s windshield, hitting the 17-year-old driver.
The sheriff’s office disclosed that the teens had entered the property to look for the homeowner after parking outside the gate and hopping the fence. Unable to find the homeowner, they returned to their car to write a note seeking permission for their photo plans.
While the teens were writing the note, Metz arrived and allegedly fired the shot. According to a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, the teens’ actions did not appear to be malicious or criminal in nature.
An arrest affidavit obtained by local media revealed that one of the teens heard Metz exclaim, “Oh s—, my gun just went off,” following the shooting. Metz reportedly attempted to assist the injured teen, but the other youth pushed him away. The town administrator of Mountain View has declined to comment on the incident.