Colorado Teen Homecoming Incident Triggers Heated Gun Control Discussions

Police cars with flashing lights at nighttime.

A Colorado town council member shoots a teenager in the face during a homecoming photo shoot gone wrong, sparking controversy and legal action.

At a Glance

A 17-year-old boy was shot in the face while seeking a location for homecoming photos in Conifer, Colorado
The shooter, Brent Metz, is a member of the Mountain View Town Council
Metz faces multiple charges, including first-degree assault and felony menacing
The teen victim did not believe the shooting was intentional
The incident has raised questions about property rights and gun safety

Teenage Photo Shoot Takes Dangerous Turn

In a shocking incident that has rocked a Colorado community, a 17-year-old boy was shot in the face while searching for a picturesque location to take homecoming photos. The shooter, identified as Brent Metz, a member of the Mountain View Town Council, now faces serious legal consequences for his actions. The event unfolded on Tuesday afternoon in the 23000 block of Pleasant Park Road near Conifer, Colorado.

According to reports, the teenager and a friend had driven to a private property, parked at the gate, and jumped the fence to speak with the homeowner about using the location for photos. Unbeknownst to them, their presence had triggered a security system, alerting the absent homeowner, who then contacted her boyfriend, Metz.

Confrontation Leads to Gunfire

As the teens were writing a note to explain their presence, Metz arrived at the scene. In a turn of events that has left many questioning the use of force, Metz allegedly got out of his truck and fired through the windshield of the teens’ car, striking one of them in the face. The severity of the situation became immediately apparent when deputies found the victim “bleeding heavily from his face” with his friend applying pressure using a T-shirt.

“A 17-year-old boy was shot in the face after he and another teen hopped a fence onto private property in Conifer to scope out a good place for homecoming photos, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday. The boy told a sheriff’s deputy before he was taken by ambulance to a hospital that he and his friend drove to the property in Pleasant Park, parked at the home’s gate, jumped the fence and walked up the driveway to try to speak to the homeowner. When deputies arrived, they found the boy ‘bleeding heavily from his face’ and his friend applying pressure to his face with a T-shirt.”

In the aftermath of the shooting, one of the teens reported hearing Metz exclaim, “Oh (expletive), my gun went off,” suggesting the discharge may have been unintentional. This aligns with the injured teen’s statement to deputies that he did not believe Metz shot him intentionally. Reports indicate that Metz attempted to render aid following the incident but was pushed away by the other teen.

Legal Ramifications and Community Response

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has charged Metz with first-degree assault, felony menacing, illegal discharge of a firearm, and reckless endangerment. He was booked on a $5,000 bond and assigned a public defender, with a court appearance scheduled for Monday. The gun used in the shooting was recovered from Metz’s truck, further complicating his legal situation.

“These kids were no longer on the property by the time the homeowner arrived,” Jacki Kelley, public information officer for the sheriff’s office, told FOX31’s Gabby Easterwood. “They were in the car writing a note on a public roadway. So any threat that he thought he may have to deal with was no longer on his property.” “There’s nothing about this that appears to be malicious, with any intent to commit crimes when they jumped over that fence and went to contact that homeowner. It doesn’t exist as far as we can tell. So likely not going to be charging these kids with trespassing,” Kelley said.

The incident has sparked a debate about property rights, gun safety, and the responsibilities of public officials. The town of Mountain View has remained silent on the matter, with the mayor declining to comment and the town administrator not responding to inquiries. As of Wednesday, the injured teen remained hospitalized, with no further information provided about his condition.

A Jefferson County homeowner is accused of shooting a 17-year-old in the face as the teen was sitting in his car writing a note to ask for permission to take homecoming photos around the property https://t.co/ErAFq1BRod by @Noelle_Phillips

— Matt Sebastian (@mattsebastian) September 11, 2024

Lessons and Lingering Questions

This unfortunate event serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of misunderstandings and hasty actions. It raises important questions about the use of force in protecting property and the need for clear communication in potentially tense situations. As the community grapples with the aftermath, many are calling for a reevaluation of gun safety practices and the responsibilities that come with gun ownership, especially for those in positions of public trust.

As the investigation continues, the incident will likely prompt discussions about property laws, the limits of self-defense, and the importance of de-escalation techniques. For now, a community is left to reflect on how a search for the perfect homecoming photo location could end in such tragedy, and what steps can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.