A North Carolina deputy has been terminated from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on Monday (Oct. 31), after accidentally shooting her 11-year-old daughter during a Halloween party at their home.
Deputy Misty Flowers was flaunting her service weapon to a group of friends at an intimate, home gathering on Saturday (Oct. 29), when the gun accidentally went off, according to CBS WCN. The bullet reportedly plowed through a nearby wall, piercing her daughter who was playing in the other room.
Lincoln County deputies were reportedly called to the home a little before midnight, where they immediately escorted Flowers and her daughter to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte for emergency surgery, according to authority reports. The young girl was reportedly stabilized after surgery and continues to recover in the hospital.
Flowers has been with the Sheriff’s office since 2015. Sheriff David Carpenter said Flowers’ actions have warranted an immediate termination as well as an extensive SBI (State Bureau) investigation into the incident. “I find gross negligence and the disregard for the safety of others was displayed in the incident Saturday night and therefore Officer Flowers was terminated today,” Sheriff Carpenter said.
“This is a very tragic situation for all involved, the officer, her family, her career and everyone that has been touched by this,” Carpenter added. “We continue to pray for healing of the child and the entire family as the investigation continues over the next several days.”