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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Friendly Fire at a Texas Party

DALLAS (CN) - An East Texas family claims in county court that their son was shot in the chest by assault rifle that their friends were firing at a pond during a party.

Tolvia Wilcoxson and Kathaleen Wilcoxson, both of Willis Point, Texas, filed suit last week in Dallas County Court against Larry Neill, Thomas Neill, Andrew Plassenthal, Fonda Plassenthal, all of Willis Point, and Robert King of Mesquite.

The Wilcoxsons were attending a party near the Plassenthal's home in September 2010. They said the Neills and Kings were guests as well and brought several firearms, including an assault rifle, according to the complaint.

"Defendants Larry Neill, Thomas Neill, and Robert King took turns discharging the assault rifle into the bank of a pond," according to the complaint. "Some of the assault rifle rounds went over the bank of the pond and struck the barn where Ranger Wilcoxson and other minors were shooting pool.

"As a result of Defendants' conduct, Ranger Wilcoxson was struck in the chest by a round fired from the assault rifle. Ranger Wilcoxson was taken to Parkland Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to repair the gunshot wound to his chest."

The plaintiffs seek damages for negligence. They are represented by Keith Purdue with the Grossman Law Offices.

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