I’m not sure what that cite’s supposed to prove. Are you under the impression that something being accidental negates the possibility of criminal wrongdoing?
Look, the guy either intentionally shot his daughter, or he accidentally shot his daughter. There is no third option - it’s got to be one or the other. If you accept the guy’s story, the shooting was accidental. The shooting was also stupid, easily avoidable, and criminally negligent, but it’s no less an accident for all that.
An unfortunate event that couldn’t have reasonably been predicted or prevented. This was neither.
Even after checking whether the gun is loaded, it’s a stupid, idiotic, brainless, careless, dangerous, stupid thing to do.
We own guns. Even if I’ve just disassembled and reassembled one of them, so that I know that it’s physically impossible for it to be loaded, I would never point it at another person, much less pull the trigger. That falls under the category of “things you just plain don’t do, for any reason, ever”.
My knee jerk reaction: It probably wasn’t an accident. Maybe they got into a heated argument and the dad impulsively shot her or something. That seems a lot more plausible to me than someone “accidentally” pointing a loaded gun at a loved one.
Sad, regardless. 
The Four Rules of firearm safety;
1; all guns are always loaded (treat every gun like it’s loaded and ready to fire) - idiot violated this one because he thought it was unloaded
2; NEVER point a firearm at anything you are unwilling to destroy - gross violation of rule 2
3; Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and ready to shoot - gross violation of rule 3
4; know your target, and what lies beyond it - violated this rule too
All four safety rules violated, and an innocent girl dead because of the male genetic donor’s negligence
This is clearly NOT an accident, this is at bare minimum, criminal negligence and manslaughter
*I brought you in this world, and I can take you out. * Bill Cosby
Yeah, that’s not what the word means.
I am going to go for the gold here and say that it was an accident and also murder.
I’m afraid you just get the silver. Gold to anyone who thinks it was accident, murder, and negligence.
But I don’t understand the story, assuming he really did think the gun was empty. Was firing an empty gun at someone a sort of “love pat” in that family? Was it his way of expressing displeasure at who she was dating?
Yep, you are wrong-O. From your cite, you should note the word ‘willful’.
I’m really amazed that any kind of idiot would point a gun at anybody they loved and pull the trigger. I rather suspect that there is more to the story than ol’ dad is letting on. If not, then I do not think that there is a word or phrase in our language that expresses his stupidity! I really, really marvel at what he did.
“Hey, baby, come here and look at this! Surprise! Ha -h…Ooopssss…!”
If a father’s stupidity causes their child’s death, I often believe that they have been punished enough, but, for this character, I could even go with a very long prison sentence. Hard labor is optional.
ETA: Oops! Forgot to add sterilization. Not mandatory. Not necessary to stop at the testcles.
Since this happened in Iowa, it may be more relevant to look up the laws are there that may be applicable.
Mainly it’s suicides followed by homicides. In which case it seems to me that most of the killing is being done by people who know exactly how to treat a firearm.
Coroner & PD definitions don’t always match.
– A pulls a knife & mugs B; B then pulls a gun & shoots/kills A.
Coroner’s cause of death on death certificate: Homicide
PD: justifiable self-defense; no charges files
– C spends the night in a bar & then drives home, having an accident & killing D
Coroner’s cause of death on death certificate: Trauma/Motor Vehicle Accident
PD: DUI/Homicide charges filed.
"n Ankeny father who shot and killed his daughter in the apartment they shared in June will go to trial in September, according to a court filing today.
Scott Hazelbaker, 51, faces counts of involuntary manslaughter and assault causing injury in the death of his daughter, Emily Hazelbaker, 18. The two were reportedly in the kitchen of their apartment on June 14 when Hazelbaker pointed and shot a loaded handgun at his daughter."
Sounds legally reasonable: Voluntarily pointing and triggering a weapon at someone is assault. A death having been the consequence of the injuries resulting from that assault, though it was not the intent, is manslaughter. And society charges criminally because as mentioned by an earlier poster, “he has suffered enough” does not redress the injury to society… and because with a felony conviction the state then may ban him from owning and bearing firearms from here on which is probably what many would want to be sure of.
“Man Shoots/Kills 18 Yr Old Daughter by Accident”
I’m going to hell for noting the relationship between the OP’s headline and his user name…
I know, it is a tragedy of the highest order. But that really really dark little voice in my head is giggling a little, dammit. Too many Tarantino movies…
So, what should people who *actually *commit murder be charged with? And, what message would we want to send in that case?