A man in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region was convicted after his unsafe handling of a shotgun led to the death of his granddaughter. The court sentenced him to 1 year of freedom restriction and a 3-year ban on possessing and carrying firearms.
According to a statement from the regional branch of Russia's Investigative Committee, the incident occurred in April 2026 in the Arzamassky district. The man was returning from a hunt with his 12-year-old granddaughter when he placed the shotgun, still loaded and with its barrel pointing toward the rear seats, between the front seats. This was a clear violation of firearm safety rules.
After the vehicle stopped, the man tried to remove the shotgun from the car when it discharged. The bullet struck the girl, killing her at the scene.
Following the investigation, the man was found guilty under Article 109 of the Russian Criminal Code of "causing death by negligence." The court sentenced him to 1 year of freedom restriction and a 3-year ban on possessing and carrying firearms.