Teen mourned following outdoor shooting range accident in Santa Barbara County
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s office has confirmed the death of a teenager who was airlifted to the hospital following an accidental shooting.
The Coroner’s office determined Kaiden Vague died as the result of a traumatic accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Vague was pronounced dead on his 16th birthday, Friday, Feb, 16, one day after visiting the designated shooting area off E. Camino Cielo known as the Glass Factory. He was with his father and younger brother.
The shooting happened around 1 p.m. on Thursday.
His friend and behavioral therapist Gwen Stephen created a Gofundme campaign to help his family with funeral and medical expenses.
Stephen wrote, ” He had high functioning autism, and boy was he proud of it. His family created and still runs a non-profit organization for individuals with disabilities called Softin Inc. They are an integral part of the autism community, and take kids out on the ocean on their charter boat.”
Stephen was Vague’s behavioral therapist at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta and is very close with the family.
She said Vague had been to the gun range since he was about 8-years-old and knew how to handle a gun.
She said his death, according to the family, was a “freak accident.”
