A young boy from Tucson, Arizona was fatally shot in the chest on a Monday afternoon, December 18, 2023, when he and a friend, riding on a four-wheeler, accidentally entered a target practice area.
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Department reported that eight-year-old Bradley John Shockley sustained a chest injury from a .22-caliber pellet discharged by a high-powered air rifle.
He was quickly transported to Benson Hospital in Arizona, where he died from his injuries within an hour of his admission.
Ella Scofield, Bradley’s mother, described the incident as a complete accident. She reminisced about her son’s love for reading, spaghetti, and his excitement for the upcoming Christmas celebration. He had a special interest in guessing his Christmas presents, particularly a big box of books, as reading was one of his favorite pastimes.
The family, while grieving, expressed no hard feelings toward the people involved in the accidental shooting. Scofield emphasized the family’s love and forgiveness toward those involved, stating that the children of the shooter are still welcome at their home.
In remembrance of Bradley, a celebration of life has been planned for December 29 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in St. David, Arizona. The event will include serving spaghetti, Bradley’s favorite meal.
The Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the circumstances of the shooting and will submit its findings to the county attorney for further review.
A GoFundMe page has been established to assist the Shockley family during this difficult time.