Seven-Year-Old Boy Shot in Trespassing Incident Dies

The boy, his father Donald Coffey Sr., his 5-year-old sister, Destiny, and a family friend, Patrick Cammack, were off-roading about 40 miles northeast of Houston late Thursday when they stopped so the children could go to the restroom.

Although they were not on private property, they were still too close to the property of Sheila Muhs, 45, and her husband, Gayle Muhs, also 45. According to teh Houston Chronicle, the Muhs live in a small house on stilts with a rebel flag flying from the roof, with a sign posted out front that reads: "Trespassers will be shot. Survivers (sic) will be reshot!! Smile I will."

Police allege the Muhs blasted the four with shotguns after they mistakenly thought they were trespassing on their property. Sheila Muhs fired once with a 12-gauge shotgun, then handed it to her husband, who also fired once. After that, Sheila Muhs called 911 and told the dispatcher, "They're out here tearing up the levee, so I shot them."

Liberty County Chief Deputy Ken DeFoor said the levee belongs to the subdivision and is not private property.

The Muhs were charged with second-degree felony counts of aggravated assault in the shootings Thursday. They were being held at Liberty County Jail with bail set at $25,000 each. Liberty County Sheriff's Cpl. Hugh Bishop said the district attorney might upgrade the charges to murder on Monday.

"That is something they will look into with the DA. We're still trying to get the circumstances behind the incident."

The father, Donald Coffey Sr. had a pellet wound in his right shoulder. Destiny, was hit in the elbow but was in good condition. Patrick Cammack, 30, was upgraded from critical condition to serious condition after being shot in the head.