The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a person was injured by shrapnel on Saturday night. Around 9:30 p.m. on June 8, BCSO received calls from witnesses saying a bystander had been injured while another person was shooting a rifle.
Witnesses reported that the injured person was found in a field in the 8000 block of 170th Avenue Northeast in Maywood Township and had suffered a substantial injury to his abdomen.
At the scene, first responders found the victim, 26-year-old Collin Louis Schumacher, receiving first aid from others. BCSO says Schumacher said he was in the field with others engaging in recreational firearms use including the use of Tannerite.
The victim suffered serious injuries resulting from shrapnel produced when a large amount of Tannerite detonated inside a metal barrel. The victim was eventually airlifted to North Memorial Hospital.
Deputies say approximately twelve people gathered at the scene of the accident and had placed a large amount of Tannerite downrange about 150 feet from the crowd of people. A metal barrel was placed over the Tannerite. One person fired a rifle through the barrel and hit the Tannerite.
BCSO says this caused an explosion inside the barrel sending shrapnel flying in several directions. A piece of shrapnel struck Schumacher causing his injuries. No other injuries were reported.
Jay Skelton is an independent crime journalist with a passion for covering the uncovered and the under covered.