Children of gun instructor accidently shot by NJ girl issues statement

The children of an Arizona gun instructor accidentally killed while showing a 9-year-old New Jersey girl how to fire an Uzi have posted a video expressing concern for her and wishing her peace.

Instructor Charles Vacca, left, shows a 9-year old girl how to use an Uzi. Vacca, 39, was standing next to the girl on Monday at the Last Stop range in Arizona. (AP Photo/Mohave County Sheriff Department)

Marc Lamber, an attorney representing the family of gun instructor Charlie Vacca, said the video, posted on his firm's website, enabled "Charlie's kids to share a little about the father they knew and loved" and bring "some semblence of closure to the family."

As Vacca's widow looks on, son Christopher Vacca reads from a letter and introduces his siblings Ashley, Tyler and Elizabeth, noting they had been referred to in media reports only as "the family."

Each family member in the video reads a portion of the letter. Tyler says the family thinks, prays and worries for the unidentified girl, and wishes her peace in the belief that "their dad would want the same thing." Daughter Ashley adds: "Like you, we are living through this tragic event that we cannot shut off. It's with us all the time."

"Someday we hope we can meet you, hug you and tell you it's okay." Christopher tells the New Jersey 9-year-old, who has not been named. Elizabeth says her father, who she described as "funny, heroic, a friend and a good man" would want the girl to move on with her life and not let the accident define her.

Attorney Jason Goodnow concluded the video by acknowledging the national discussion the incident created but said it "should not overshadow the impact this tragedy has had on everyone involved."

Earlier, Kevin Walsh, an attorney for the New Jersey girl's family said they had “prayed day and night that (Vacca) would survive his injury, and they continue to pray for his family during this terribly difficult time.”

Vacca was standing next to the girl at the Arizona gun range when she squeezed the trigger and the recoil wrenched the Uzi upward toward his head.The Mohave County Sheriff's Department is not filing charges in the case.

Neither family had been identified by Arizona law enforcement before the release of the video.