DuckSouth.com

Beckman expected to survive gunshot wound
Bullet ricocheted, hit him in abdomen
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
By Fred Robinson
Staff writer
RUSTON -- Tulane punter Chris Beckman remained hospitalized Monday while Lincoln Parish officials continued their investigation into a shooting incident that left Beckman with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Beckman, 22, was in stable condition Sunday night at Lincoln General Hospital. However, at the family's request, officials refused to give his condition Monday. Beckman's family referred all inquiries to Tulane officials, who said little about the incident.

A release by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff's Department said Beckman is expected to survive the injury.

Beckman suffered the wound Sunday morning after going hunting with his older brother, Daniel, and two other men from Shreveport, according to the sheriff's department.

The incident occurred in a wooded area about five miles north of Ruston off Louisiana 33, authorities said.

Beckman was struck in the right side of the abdomen by a bullet that ricocheted off a steel plate about an inch thick and was being used for target practice, LPSD information officer Wes Harris said.

The rifle that was used was owned and fired by Daniel Beckman about 55 feet from the steel plate, Harris said. Daniel Beckman lives in Shreveport.

"It hit the plate and came back at them," Harris said.

Chris Beckman, a junior from Granada, Miss., was "standing behind and to the right of the shooter," according to the release from the sheriff's department. Harris said a copy of the full investigation would not be available until today. Harris could not identify the property where the incident occurred, but said it was private land.

The other men accompanying the Beckmans were not identified by sheriff's office.

The rifle used in the incident was "a large-caliber rifle" Harris said was unusual for hunting deer.

"It's a big-game or safari-type gun," Harris said. "There are no safaris around here. It's bigger than your typical deer-hunting rifle. It's more like something you'd use for hunting water buffalo or elephants."

Authorities were told the four men went hunting Sunday morning and began firing at the steel plate when they were leaving the woods.

The ammunition fired from the rifle was a 400-grain shell, a very large bullet, authorities said. Harris said the gun used is not illegal, and there wasn't a need for a license or permit, or the need to prove ownership.

"There were no criminal violations," Harris said. "If there were, they'd be in jail right now. It was perfectly legal."

At about 9 a.m. Sunday, authorities reported receiving a 911 call in reference to a person being shot, the release said. Beckman was placed in a car and brought to Ruston by the three men, where they were met by Ruston's ambulance service. Beckman was then taken to Lincoln General, according to the release.

Chief Jerry Lewis, in charge of the city's ambulance service, said his report said Beckman's bleeding had been controlled, and there wasn't an exit wound.

Lewis said Beckman was transferred to the ambulance near Interstate 20 and Louisiana 33 and taken to the hospital.

When Lewis was told of the size of the ammunition the men were using, he said: "My God, what were they shooting, elephants?"

The only statement coming from Tulane about the incident quoted Tulane coach Chris Scelfo: "We as a Tulane family are praying hard for a special person. He is the epitome of a true student-athlete that has always represented his family and ours in a first-class manner."

Late Monday morning, Tulane senior wide receiver Bubba Terranova was seen standing outside Beckman's hospital room.

Tulane's football team has been staying on the campus of Louisiana Tech in Ruston since early September after it was forced to evacuate from New Orleans because of Hurricane Katrina.

Beckman, a first-time All-Conference USA selection a year ago, is averaging 40.9 yards a punt this season.

Last season, Beckman led the league in punting with a 42.6-yard average. He is Tulane's sixth all-time punting leader with a 42.4-yard average, and sixth in career punting yardage (7,214). He is seventh in punts with 170.

Fred Robinson can be reached at frobinson@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3412.