Teens face felony charges in shooting mishap
Richard Spradling, left, and Ronald Reynolds, right, were arrested after a passerby was wounded by a stray bullet allegedly fired during their target practice on April 13..
BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH
BURNET BULLETIN
Two teens were arrested on felony aggravated assault charges after their target practice allegedly injured a passerby.
Burnet Sheriff's Department Deputies arrested Ronald Mason Reynolds of Cedar Park and Richard Phillip Spradling of Burnet, both 18, on charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, a second degree felony.
On Wednesday, April 13 at about 9:54 a.m., the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office received report an individual had been injured by an “unknown exploding item,” officials said. The individual was driving in the 1200 block of Burnet County Road 304 when something exploded and caused injury to his right hip.
According to a Burnet County Sheriff's Office release, deputies and EMS personnel responded to the location and later believed the individual to be a victim of a gunshot wound. Deputies and investigators checked the area and made contact with three young men in the 1400 block of County Road 304. The teens reported that they had been target practicing with a rifle.
According to Burnet County Jail records, Spradling lives in the 1400 block of CR 304.
“Further investigation led investigators to believe that two of the individuals were shooting a .308 caliber rifle into some trees,” officials said. “One of the rounds fired missed its intended target and continued west, for approximately 150 yards, before striking the passenger door of a vehicle on County Road 304.”
The bullet passed through the door and into the right side of the man, the release said.
The victim was transported to Seton Medical Center Williamson for treatment. The three teens, identified as Reynolds, Spradling, and Cruzito Joe Solis, 17, were initially arrested for a misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
Investigators later obtained arrest warrants for Reynolds and Spradling on the aggravated assault charge. Reynolds and Spradling each posted a $25,000 bond and were released the next day. Solis was also released the next day on bond of $1,500.
“Persons need to consider where a bullet may travel before engaging in shooting a firearm. The reckless actions of the individuals could have caused much more serious injuries or death to the victim,” said Chief Deputy Joey Canady.
