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Domestic News
October 21, 1947
Event 2 of 2
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
In Washington, white resident John M. Gatling shot at four Black children with a shotgun, slightly wounding three (Barbara Kyler in head, Henry Russell II and Algernon Thomas in arms), after alleging they tormented him. He expressed regret and was booked on three assault charges.
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Full Text
This is Event 2 of 2. The full text below covers all events in this component.
Shoots At Kids; Wounds Three
WASHINGTON—(ANP)—"I am sorry now that I shot them," said John M. Gatling, a white Washington resident, after having fired a shotgun blast at four Negro children, three of whom were wounded slightly.
"I'm glad that I didn't hurt them any more than I did," Gatling told police.
The three injured children were Barbara Kyler, 10, struck in the head; Henry Russell, II, struck in the arm, and Algernon Thomas, 10, also struck in the arm.
The fourth child was not injured.
The children were on their way to Payne school when the shooting occurred.
Gatling is alleged to have told detectives that the children had been "tormenting" him, going on his porch and "bothering his things." Said they had been breaking bottles in the back alley and once tipped over a cement flower pot which he had on the railing of his front porch.
He said he got mad when the children cursed him and went into the house to get his gun. When he returned, the children were almost a block away. However—he fired at them, hoping to shoot over their heads.
Gatling was booked on three charges of assault with a dangerous weapon.
WASHINGTON—(ANP)—"I am sorry now that I shot them," said John M. Gatling, a white Washington resident, after having fired a shotgun blast at four Negro children, three of whom were wounded slightly.
"I'm glad that I didn't hurt them any more than I did," Gatling told police.
The three injured children were Barbara Kyler, 10, struck in the head; Henry Russell, II, struck in the arm, and Algernon Thomas, 10, also struck in the arm.
The fourth child was not injured.
The children were on their way to Payne school when the shooting occurred.
Gatling is alleged to have told detectives that the children had been "tormenting" him, going on his porch and "bothering his things." Said they had been breaking bottles in the back alley and once tipped over a cement flower pot which he had on the railing of his front porch.
He said he got mad when the children cursed him and went into the house to get his gun. When he returned, the children were almost a block away. However—he fired at them, hoping to shoot over their heads.
Gatling was booked on three charges of assault with a dangerous weapon.