Nov 18, 2008 7:02 am US/Eastern
NYC Hunter In Upstate Jail After Tragic Killing
Girlfriend Of Edward Taibi Speaks Exclusively To CBS 2 HD
Reporting
Lou Young
SWAN LAKE, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Edward Taibi, 45, apparently first shot at a deer from this structure up in Swan Lake, N.Y. The tragedy allegedly happened when he moved in for a second shot.
CBS
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Police examine the bullet hole in the side of a trailer left after a hunter accidentally shot and killeda toddler in Swan Lake.
CBS
Two families were grieving Monday night after a day of deer hunting took a devastating turn. A hunter whose bullet was meant for a deer killed a child he never even saw.
The people closest to 45-year-old Edward Taibi were distraught Monday night as he waited in an upstate jail in connection with Sunday's deer hunting accident that took the life of a toddler.
"He's really upset and we're really sorry for the family and for the baby that's life was lost," said Evelyn Lopez, the girlfriend of the accused. "We'd never want to hurt anybody, especially him."
A bullet from his high-powered rifle went through the side of a trailer in Swan Lake, mortally wounding 16-month-old Charly Skala. The charge is manslaughter.
"You have to know what's on the other side of your target and in this case, this gentleman didn't take that safety precaution," said Lt. Pierce Gallagher of the New York State Police.
Taibi lives in Howard Beach with his girlfriend and his 17-year-old daughter who said he called immediately after the incident, inconsolable over the death of the toddler. They said he lost a child of his own two years ago to cancer and this hits home.
"He's hysterical. He would never hurt anybody intentionally, never," Lopez said. "He lost a 12-year-old daughter to cancer two years ago and kids are his life."
Taibi was hunting with a friend from an elevated blind when he hit a deer with his first shot, wounding it. State police said the problem came when he dropped down to the forest floor and began tracking the animal on foot. His second shot either missed the deer or passed through it and into the trailer where the little girl was hit.
"He's obviously extremely upset. He's very broken up about what's taken place," Lt. Gallagher said. "There's been no attempt to avoid blame for this."
Lopez again came to her boyfriend's aid.
"He would never hurt anybody," she said. "We're trying to raise money for lawyers and bail and we're reaching out to all the hunters out there because we need their help to get him out."
Most of all she wants people know that her man is not a monster, just someone who made a tragic mistake... up the woods near Swan Lake, about 85 miles above New York City.
Those who know the Taibi tell CBS 2 HD he is an experienced hunter. State police said he is cooperating fully with the investigation.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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