Arizona agency: No ‘serious violations’ at gun range where 9-year-old girl killed instructor

This is not about RKBA. This is about safety on the job, which puts the incident in the purview of regulatory agencies.

Arizona agency: No ‘serious violations’ at gun range where 9-year-old girl killed instructor with uzi

Investigation into August fatal accident at Mohave County Bullets and Burgers gun range owned by former Havasu city councilman concludes

Posted: Monday, February 23, 2015 9:17 pm | Updated: 10:01 pm, Tue Feb 24, 2015.

By ZACHARY MATSON TODAY’S NEWS-HERALD | 0 comments



The state agency responsible for investigating workplace fatalities found no serious violations at the gun range in Mohave County where a range instructor was killed in August when a 9-year-old girl lost control of a mini Uzi.

Charles Vacca, 39, of Lake Havasu City, was killed Aug. 25 while instructing the girl. After Vacca switched the gun to “full-auto,” the girl lost control as the gun recoiled over her shoulder and fired at Vacca. The Mohave County Sheriff’s Department ruled the death an accident and handed over its investigation to the state.

The Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health concluded its own investigation of the death at Bullets and Burgers gun range in White Hills – about 100 miles north of Lake Havasu City – and cited the business for five unrelated “non-serious” violations.

At the Industrial Commission of Arizona board meeting earlier this month, ADOSH director William Warren told the commission that the gun range, operated by former Havasu City Councilman Sam Scarmardo, had implemented changes since the accident to improve safety.