Re-enactor indicted in Isle of Wight shooting

By
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 17, 2009

ISLE OF WIGHT

A man accused of accidentally shooting another Civil War re-enactor in September will turn himself in next week, County Sheriff Charlie Phelps said Friday.

Re-enactors were filming the "Civil War Overland Campaign Web Series Project" at a park in the central part of the county on Sept. 27 when a 72-year-old Suffolk man was shot in the back of the shoulder.

Thomas R. Lord Sr. was treated and released at a local hospital. A county grand jury indicted a Norfolk man this week.

"There was no criminal intent," the sheriff said. "The individual will turn himself the first of next week. He's been cooperative with us all along." He declined to identify the man because he hasn't been formally charged.

Phelps said he hasn't determined why the re-enactor had a live round in his .40-caliber replica of a Civil War firearm. The man was indicted on a misdemeanor charge of brandishing a firearm, according to Phelps.

Lord was portraying a Northern soldier; the indicted man was portraying a Southerner. Sheriff's investigators reviewed film footage to determine who fired the shot, Phelps said.

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The Sheriff said

Submitted by humptydumpty1 on Sat, 01/17/2009 at 7:08 pm.

the suspect had no criminal intent...so why the hell was he indicted? Im thinking the most there is here is a civil issue...(no pun intended).

this is stupid

Submitted by jonmic666 on Sat, 01/17/2009 at 5:46 pm.

indicted for an accident. whatever. glad there's enough money floating around to waste law enforcements time with crap like this.

SORE LOSER

Submitted by oracledbatobe on Sat, 01/17/2009 at 2:28 pm.

I guess the shooter was a little bitter that the North won and thus ultimately led to Obama being POTUS today. So I guess if I shoot someone, it's only a misdemeanor charge of brandishing a firearm if you use a civil war era firearm and not a Glock.

Bad Charge

Submitted by Sniper1977 on Sat, 01/17/2009 at 2:06 pm.

As the article stated this was an accident and the investigation determined there was no criminal intent. The charge of brandishing is a bad call and I think any first year attorney would be able to get this charged dismissed. Here you have the vice president of the United States shoot someone in an accident and is not even charged but yet an re-enactor is charged for a bogus charge of brandishing, come on give me a break.

Indicted for Brandishing a Firearm?

Submitted by Caspar on Sat, 01/17/2009 at 9:25 am.

Obama wants to close Club Gitmo. Kaine wants to release criminals after 30 days, but this man was indicted for brandishing a firearm in a Civil War Enactment. Does the Isle of Wight County DA have nothing to do? This was an accident. Even the County Sheriff realizes this, but evidentally the DA isn't that bright.