Fort Liard (May 14/04) - Fort Liard RCMP charged two Fort Nelson, B.C., men Tuesday for a shooting that occurred in Fort Liard last month.

A 22-year-old was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and careless use of a prohibited weapon. A 21-year-old faces one count of possession of a prohibited weapon.

The RCMP received a report of a shooting at the Hay Lake campgrounds around 1 a.m. on April 20. A 31-year-old man, also from Fort Nelson, took a bullet in the abdomen. He was medevaced to the University of Alberta hospital and has since been released.

All three men were travelling together.

According RCMP Const. Colleen Lowing, the weapon involved in the case is a .22-handgun which was being used to shoot at some signs.

She said the gun jammed and then went off when it was being fixed. The bullet ricocheted off the ground and into the victim's stomach. He was in Fort Liard to visit relatives at the time.

It's expected both accused will appear in Fort Liard territorial court on June 28.