Ronan man to be arraigned in child shooting
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POLSON – Galen Hawk, 26, of Ronan, is scheduled to be arraigned in Lake County District Court on Nov. 5 for the shooting death of a three-year old that occurred Oct. 22.
Prosecutors have charged Hawk with negligent homicide. Because the incident involved a dangerous weapon, Hawk could face up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine if convicted.
According to court documents, Hawk was at first evasive at answering questions about the toddler’s death, but eventually told investigators that he found the child playing with his .380 caliber handgun. Hawk said he took the gun away from the boy and the child ran down the hall, looked back, and pointed a toy gun at him. Hawk pointed the handgun at the child, playing “gun tag” and the firearm went off.
Hawk told investigators that he began CPR on the boy.
A woman who has been the child’s guardian since late summer was in another room and found the child bleeding. Hawk, the woman, and another man who was in the house but did not see the incident, drove the child to St. Luke Community Hospital in Ronan. The child died while undergoing treatment.
While at the hospital, the man who was in the house at the time of the accident told law enforcement officials that Hawk had a .380 magazine for a Taurus pistol in his pocket. Hawk produced a fully-loaded, six-round magazine for the gun.
Investigators found the gun in a search of the home. Hawk told investigators that he didn’t believe the gun was loaded because the magazine was in his pocket.
He also told investigators that he was “buzzed” at the time of the incident from drinking Seagram’s whiskey and Mike’s Hard Lemonade earlier in the evening. Hawk was listed as the child’s uncle in the boy’s obituary.
Hawk’s bail was set at $100,000. He was also wanted on a warrant issued in March 2013 for not appearing in court for felony DUI charges, fourth or subsequent offense. The charge stemmed from an incident where Hawk was allegedly stopped by a St. Ignatius police officer on Dec. 29, 2012. The officer noted signs of intoxication and when taken to Lake County Jail, Hawk’s breath test read .162.
