Former Disney Channel star Christy Carlson Romano’s clay pigeon shooting celebration for her husband’s birthday turned into a near-tragic event on February 7, 2025, in Austin, Texas, when she was struck in the face by pellets from another party’s gun.
“I took him to shoot clay pigeons as a present,” Romano wrote on Instagram. “There was another party with us, and they unsafely fired in the wrong direction and shot me in the face.” The 40-year-old actress was hit in five places, with one projectile missing her right eye by less than an inch.
Her husband, Brendan Rooney, who was celebrating his 42nd birthday, immediately rushed her to an Austin hospital. Medical professionals discovered a fragment lodged behind her eye, determining it too risky to remove surgically. Despite this concerning development, Romano maintains normal vision while remaining under medical monitoring. The medical team worked extensively to clean and assess each wound site, particularly around her right eye and forehead, where fragments remained embedded.
Through her recovery, Romano has maintained remarkable resilience, a trait she recently demonstrated on “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” where she endured rigorous military-style training exercises alongside other celebrities. The reality show experience, while physically and mentally demanding, perhaps prepared her for facing this unexpected challenge.
Romano’s entertainment career spans over two decades, beginning with her breakthrough role as Ren Stevens in “Even Stevens” (2000-2003), where she starred alongside Shia LaBeouf. She then voiced the titular character in the animated series “Kim Possible” (2002-2007), which ran for 87 episodes and spawned two Disney Channel original movies. Her voice work earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination, establishing her as one of Disney Channel’s most recognizable talents of the early 2000s.
The mother of two – Isabella Victoria, 8, and Sophia Elizabeth, 5 – shared a video revealing the extent of her injuries, including a small gash beneath her eye and visible bruising where the fragments struck. “I love my daughters, husband, family, and friends so much. I saw my life flash before my eyes,” Romano shared, praising the medical team as “just the most amazing, superhero-like people to take care of us at our most desperate times.”
Rooney, her husband of 11 years whom she met while studying at Barnard College, responded with emotional support: “You are the bravest, toughest, most stoic and badass woman I have ever met. I am so thankful you are alive. I am so thankful you are the mother to our children. I wouldn’t know what to do without you. I love you more than life itself.”
The shooting range where the incident happened specializes in clay pigeon shooting. In this sport, participants aim at clay discs launched into the air to mimic the unpredictable flight of birds. It’s a popular activity for hunters and recreational shooters to sharpen their skills. The range typically welcomes everyone, from beginners to seasoned shooters, with strict safety protocols in place to prevent accidents.
Romano maintained her characteristic humor throughout her recovery despite the gravity of her injuries. She told her husband, “God saved me so I could tell you to clean up your empty cans around the house,” adding, “I dunno laughter helps.” In her latest video update, she reflected, “Everything’s kinda clearing out, but got to say I got shot in the face and lived to tell the tale.” Rooney later shared her video on his Instagram Stories with the simple message, “Kiss your loved ones.”