Man mistaken for rodent, shot in face

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Snorkeler mistaken for rodent gets shot in face

February 12, 2007 - 10:03AM

A snorkeler in the US who was shot in the face after he was apparently mistaken for a swimming rodent is in good condition after surgery, a hospital says.

John William Cheesman, 44, from Oregon, underwent eight hours of surgery on Thursday to remove bullet and bone fragments from his face, said his wife, Shelley Cheesman.

"He's doing really well," Shelley Cheesman said.

"The bullet hit in front of his right ear, where the bone is the most dense. It just fragmented and didn't go into his brain."

William Roderick, 60, has been charged with assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. He was being held in the county jail.

Roderick told deputies he thought Cheesman was a nutria swimming in the Smith River near Reedsport, about 90 miles southwest of Eugene, and shot him with a .22-calibre rifle, police said.

A nutria is a water-dwelling South American rodent species that is larger than a muskrat but smaller than a beaver.

It was introduced to US waters in the 1940s, according the National Wildlife Federation.

Cheesman, an avid diver, was in the river looking at different species of fish, his wife said.

He swam to the river bank and yelled for help.

Roderick and another man came to Cheesman's aid in a boat, called 911 and drove him to an ambulance.

"I do give him credit for helping him," Shelley Cheesman said of Roderick.

AP

[peejay 327]

Life never ceases to amaze me. Some people really have no business possessing guns.

This explains it all:

William Roderick, 60, has been charged with assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Life never ceases to amaze me. Some people really have no business possessing guns.

This explains it all:

William Roderick, 60, has been charged with assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

Very true, Peejay. I know some would disagree with me here, but I think there should be tests people need to go through in order to own, maintain and operate a firearm. Guns are a huge responsibility and sadly, few seem up to the task.

[Savanphil 3]

I'm sure ####### Cheyney was involved

[Ban Hammer 13,344]

Life never ceases to amaze me. Some people really have no business possessing guns.

This explains it all:

William Roderick, 60, has been charged with assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

Very true, Peejay. I know some would disagree with me here, but I think there should be tests people need to go through in order to own, maintain and operate a firearm. Guns are a huge responsibility and sadly, few seem up to the task.

and just who would make up this test? someone like hillary?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Life never ceases to amaze me. Some people really have no business possessing guns.

This explains it all:

William Roderick, 60, has been charged with assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

He didn't have enough brains to ditch the drugs. He shot someone in the face so it would be hard to hide the gun.

[mRx 16]

those AARP junkies

[peejay 327]

Life never ceases to amaze me. Some people really have no business possessing guns.

This explains it all:

William Roderick, 60, has been charged with assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana.

Very true, Peejay. I know some would disagree with me here, but I think there should be tests people need to go through in order to own, maintain and operate a firearm. Guns are a huge responsibility and sadly, few seem up to the task.

and just who would make up this test? someone like hillary?

I guess one thing we can all agree on is that convicted felons should definitely be banned from possessing firearms.

And Hillary is the least of our worries...I'm more scared of lunatics like Howard Dean, Teddy Kennedy, and their ilk.