Carthage dad charged in accidental shooting

CARTHAGE, Mo. -- A Carthage man is facing six felony charges after an altercation with his father-in-law resulted in two young children being shot in the face.

The Joplin Globe reported 27-year-old Kenton Cowgill Jr. was charged Tuesday with three counts of domestic assault, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office said the fight Monday began when 48-year-old Mark Wittenmeyer confronted Cowgill about a domestic assault involving Cowgill's wife, Wittenmeyer's daughter.

Prosecutors say Cowgill grabbed a shotgun and it discharged while the men struggled over the weapon, striking a 2-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy in the face.

A deputy says the children's wounds are not life-threatening.

Online court records do not indicate whether Cowgill has obtained an attorney.

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Information from: The Joplin (Mo.) Globe, http://www.joplinglobe.com