Family of the gun instructor who was accidentally killed by a 9-year-old girl says it has forgiven her.
In a statement released by the family of Charles Vacca, his children said, " "We know it was a tragic accident and that it's something that we're all going to have to live with," Vacca's 19-year-old daughter Ashley said in a NBC News interview to be aired Friday on the TODAY show.
Vacca, 39, died of gun injuries after he was accidentally shot by the girl whom he was teaching shooting at the Last Stop outdoor shooting range in White Hills, Ariz. He stood next to the girl and told her to go "full auto" at the outdoor shooting range. The recoil of the gun tugged the weapon upward, shooting Vacca in the head. He was airlifted to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where he was declared dead.
"It was also very important to them that we make sure the young girl knows that no one blames her for this tragic event," the statement read, reports the New York Daily News. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family."
Vacca's ex-wife, Anamarie, said, "My heart goes out to the little girl and I feel sorry for her and for her family." She also said that Vacca's death came as a shock to the family. "Charles was definitely a good person and he was a good dad. He loved his children very much, and family was very important."
Prosecutors said they will not file charges in the case. The identity of the girl has not been disclosed.
