Charge laid in nail gun shooting at N.S. construction site

Nova Scotia RCMPhave charged a 43-year-old man with criminal negligence causing bodily harm two weeks after a construction worker was shot with a nail gun in Pictou County in what he allegeswas the culmination of racism and bullying by a colleague.

Shawn Wade Hynesof Trentonwas arrested Sept. 27 and released on conditions to have no contact with the victim, RCMP said Friday in a news release.

A 21-year-old man was injured when he was struck in the back with a nail fired from a nail gun, police said.

"We were called while the victim was still in hospital and began our investigation from there," said Cpl. Jennifer Clarke.

The victim,NhlanhlaDlamini, previouslytold CBCNewshe was at a worksite in Abercrombiewhen a co-worker accused him of working too slowly before purposely aiming an air-powered nail gun at him and firing.

Dlamini said his lung was punctured with a3-inchframing nail and required emergency surgery.

The shooting came after weeks of racially chargedharassment by the same colleague, said Dlamini, who is black.

A lawyer for Dlamini's employer, P.Q. Properties Ltd., has vigorously maintainedthe nail gun shooting was an accident, dismissing the police investigation as "ridiculous."

Hynesis scheduled to appear in Pictouprovincial court on Dec.21. He didnotimmediatelyrespondto a request forcommentFriday.

There have been no charges laid against P.Q. Properties or its owner, said Clarke.

"If we do receive information that would sort of spur more investigation we would certainly follow-up on that. But to date, this is the only charge we've laid."

She said the RCMP has been working with the Department of Labour during theinvestigation.

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