On the last day of Tombstone’s famous Helldorado Days, in October 2015, the Tombstone Vigilantes were engaged in a street skit involving animated gunfights in the 400 block of Allen Street. During the skit, actors Tom Carter and Ken Curtis were faced off against each other and when Carter fired his firearm, Curtis fell to the ground after being struck by a live round.
This week, authorities announced that they won’t prosecute Carter after a report from the Cochise County Attorney’s office said evidence indicates the shooting was accidental. Better protocol for ammunition checks were recommended.
“The suspect and the other participants in these shows need a better protocol to check ammunition being used and to do so right before each show,” said Tombstone Marshal Bob Randall according to ABC News.
Immediately after the shooting the vigilantes stopped the show and Carter was relieved of his weapon. During inspection of his weapon, it was discovered that there was one live round in the cylinder with five expended casings indicating the gun had held six live rounds prior to the skit. It was later learned that at least two of the live rounds struck businesses located at the East end of Allen Street, approximately 680 feet from the skit, with one bullet striking a woman standing in front of the Bird Cage Theater identified as Debbie Mitchell and additional bullet fragments striking nearby buildings.
