James Pelletier claims he thought this was a good way to teach about gun safety
HOLLIS, Maine — A father of two boys was arrested in Maine after shooting them both with a BB gun as part of a bizarre “rite of passage,” police said.
James Pelletier, 46, told cops he shot his 9-year-old son in the upper thigh and his 11-year-old brother in the arm in order for them to “know what it feels like getting hit so they won’t shoot other people,” Maine state police said.
He insisted to investigators that he shot “not out of anger, but as a rite of passage to get their own BB gun.”
The boys, however, told cops their father shot them because they failed to do their chores.
The episode came to the attention of police after they received a call from officials at the boys’ school.
Pelletier was held on felony charges of endangering the welfare of a child and domestic violence reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.
