Ex-Police Chief Edward Fleury Acquitted in 8-Year-Old Christopher Bizilj's Uzi Death

By: Joshua Norman
Topics: Book 'Em

Christopher Bizilj (The Bizilj Family)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (CBS/AP) Ten days after the trial began, a Massachusetts jury has acquitted the organizer of a gun show where an 8-year-old boy accidentally killed himself with an Uzi submachine gun in 2008.

A Hampden Superior Court jury found former Pelham Police Chief Edward Fleury not guilty on Friday of involuntary manslaughter and other charges in the death of Christopher Bizilj of Ashford, Conn. The charge carried up to 20 years on prison.

District Attorney William Bennett had argued that Fleury's advertising for the event falsely said there was no age limit or license required to shoot machine guns.

The boy's father, Dr. Charles Bizilj, had brought Christopher and his 11-year-old brother Colin to the gun show for some fun. Colin stepped up during a demonstration and fired the Uzi, which shoots up to 1,200 rounds per minute, without a problem.

Then Christopher went to fire the gun. Bennett said an unlicensed and uncertified 15-year-old boy was helping Christopher.

The teenager gave the Uzi to Christopher and had one hand on the boy and one on the gun, Bennett said. The boy lost control of the gun, which recoiled upward when fired and shot him in the face.

While deliberating, jurors were allowed to watch a video of the incident taken by the father, Charles Bizilj.

The two men who supplied the guns for the gun show, Carl Giuffre and Domenico Spano, both of Connecticut, had conducted the same gun shoot at the Westfield club for seven years without incident. Giuffre and Spano have pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and are awaiting trial.

Charles Bizilj was not charged because he was a layman, and based his decision to allow his sons to fire the gun on information from others who should have known it was too dangerous, prosecutors have said.

More Coverage of Christopher Bizilj's Death on Crimesider

Joshua Norman
Joshua Norman is an associate editor at CBSNews.com.

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by mecanik-2009 January 15, 2011 11:12 PM EST: Looking for someone to blame seems to futile now. Everyone involved has suffered so much that it seems foolish to continue to blame people. Yes we know where all the blame is and they've all paid the price for it. Let it go.; Reply to this comment


by pak31 January 15, 2011 9:29 AM EST: I am soooo glad that all of the you feel the same way I do. My thought from the start, especially since I am a parent of a son that age, was how the father could even put his beloved son in that position. I always felt that HE should be charged. Of all the things to do with an 8 year old, he chooses this. It's your job as a parent to protect your child not put them in harms way.; Reply to this comment


by Danielmountain January 15, 2011 4:57 AM EST: This is what happens when you allow kids under 18 to handle guns.

Of course the weapon in and of itself isn't even practical as a weapon. I'd rather use a gun that has a lot less recoil.; Reply to this comment


by michaelpatrickbolen January 14, 2011 8:57 PM EST: The father is an a@#$%hole. I wish he would of got shot in the head instead of his poor son.; Reply to this comment


by sdcowgirl January 14, 2011 4:21 PM EST: Funny thing, why didn't Dad shoot the uzi to see just what the recoil was and if he felt it was safe for an 8 or 11 year old to shoot it. I am an adult and have watched these weapons being shot. Guess what, I would not pick one up and try to control it on a bet. Dad, you need your a$$ kicked for not checking this out for yourself and for believing anyone else when it comes to your childs safety. Here's a little tip for ya. Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see. Might prevent any further tragedy in your life.; Reply to this comment


by ellensmithee January 14, 2011 3:53 PM EST: I'm still working on why a kid is allowed to drive at 15--with an adult--but it's legal for an 8 year-old to touch an Uzi.; Reply to this comment