No charges in Arizona gunfight skit shooting

TOMBSTONE, Ariz. --Arizona authorities say they won't prosecute an actor who shot and injured another performer during a mock gunfight in Tombstone.

The Sierra Vista Herald reports that the Cochise County Attorney's office says evidence shows the shooting was accidental and that performers in Tombstone need better protocol for ammunition checks.

Tom Carter and Ken Curtis were in a fake standoff on October 18 when Carter fired a live round. Curtis was struck in the groin. He has since recovered from his injury. Investigators say Carter had failed to go through a weapon's check before the skit.

Tombstone, about three hours southeast of Phoenix, was a bustling mining town in the 1800s. It now has about 1,500 residents, and it mostly caters to visitors who come to see gunfight reenactments and historical sites. The shooting occurred during Tombstone's Helldorado Days celebration, which includes gunfights, a parade, music and line dancing.

The town has since passed a law requiring businesses to obtain permits to conduct shooting re-enactments.