Dick Cheney hunting incident facts for kids
The Dick Cheney hunting incident happened on February 11, 2006. On that day, Dick Cheney, who was then the U.S. Vice President, accidentally shot Harry Whittington. Mr. Whittington was a 78-year-old attorney from Texas. They were both on a quail hunt at a ranch in Kenedy County, Texas. Both Mr. Cheney and Mr. Whittington said it was an accident.
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What Happened During the Hunting Trip?
On February 11, 2006, Vice President Dick Cheney was hunting quail. Quail are small birds often hunted for sport. He was with a group of people, including Harry Whittington. The hunt took place on a large ranch in Kenedy County, Texas.
The Accident Itself
During the hunt, Mr. Cheney accidentally fired his shotgun. The shot hit Mr. Whittington. This kind of accident is very rare. Both men quickly said that it was a mistake. They called it an accident.
After the Incident
A few days after the accident, on February 14, 2006, Mr. Whittington had a health problem. A small lead pellet from the shotgun shot was near his heart. This caused his heart to have an issue. Luckily, he recovered and was okay.
Public Reaction and Statements
Vice President Cheney did not talk about the incident right away. He spoke publicly on February 15, 2006. He gave an interview to Fox News. At first, news reports said that Mr. Cheney and Mr. Whittington were close friends. They also said Mr. Whittington's injuries were not serious.
Later, Mr. Whittington spoke to a newspaper called the Washington Post. He said that he and Mr. Cheney were not close friends. He described them as acquaintances. He also did not say if Mr. Cheney had apologized to him.
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