Kamesha Williams was celebrating her 16th birthday in May, when her world came crashing down around her - thanks to a gunshot from a New York police officer's gun, according to a lawsuit filed against the city.
Williams was sitting with a couple of her teenage friends at their Brooklyn home, when one of the teens, Evan Bryant, started playing around with a gun that belonged to his father, a NY police department officer, according to the suit reported in the New York Post.
The gun went off, and a bullet tore in to the side of Williams, who fell down after trying to raise to her feet.
Williams discovered she was paralyzed the next day at a local hospital.
The gun wasn't discovered and Bryant pleaded guilty to weapons possession and is serving nine years in prison.
He hasn't revealed his father's identity.
The bullet has expelled itself from Williams' body and lawyers are awaiting ballistics tests to identify the gun and its owner.
This case raises some questions about her suit. If I were her attorney, I would be troubled that the shooter refuses to identify who owned the gun. Maybe Bryant's father is a New York cop. But that doesn't mean the gun belonged to the father.
I can understand why Williams is looking to sue the city because they have deep pockets. And if you can show that the officer didn't secure his gun properly, the city could be on the hook for millions. But that does not mean the city is responsible.
You can't help but feel sorry for Williams. Not only has she lost the ability to walk, but she and her family face years of costly rehabilitation in their future.
Thus far, the only person responsible for this tragic accident is Bryant. And he is sitting in prison.
It is a tragic waste of potential all the way around.
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