17-Year-Old Shot in the Face While Searching for Homecoming Photo Location
A 17-year-old boy was shot in the face by a Mountain View council member, Brent Metz, in Jefferson County on Tuesday after a homeowner reported trespassers on her property, according to the sheriff’s office. Metz, 38, was arrested and charged with first-degree assault, illegal discharge of a firearm, felony menacing, and reckless endangerment.
The incident occurred around 4:15 p.m. in the 23000 block of Pleasant Park Road. A homeowner called the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, reporting two trespassers on her property. She also informed her boyfriend, Metz, who arrived at the scene shortly after.
When deputies arrived, they found two vehicles parked on the roadside, two juveniles, and Metz. One of the teenagers was bleeding heavily from his face while his friend attempted to stop the bleeding using a T-shirt. The injured teen explained that Metz had shot him through the windshield of their car. He was quickly transported to the hospital.
The teens told deputies that they had come to the property to inquire about using it for homecoming photos. They parked near the gate, jumped the fence, and approached the house, but when no one appeared to be home, they explored the property briefly before returning to their car to leave a note for the homeowner. It was at that point that Metz arrived, exited his truck, and fired a shot through the windshield, striking the 17-year-old driver in the face. Authorities later found the weapon inside Metz’s vehicle.
Sheriff’s office spokesperson Jacki Kelley clarified that the teens were no longer trespassing when the shooting occurred. “They were in the car writing a note on a public roadway,” Kelley said. “Any perceived threat was no longer on the property.”
When asked if the teens would face charges for trespassing, Kelley stated, “There’s no evidence suggesting malicious intent or a plan to commit any crimes. It’s unlikely the teens will be charged with trespassing.”
The investigation is ongoing, and no further details about the teen’s injuries have been released. The town of Mountain View has not yet commented on the situation.
