The girl, who has not been named, was being taught how to use a 9-millimeter uzi machine gun. The instructor, 39-year-old Charles Vacca, was standing next to the girl and helped her shoot a single round. He then switched the gun to fully automatic mode, and the recoil caused the girl to swing around and shoot Mr Vacca in the head.
Mr Vacca was flown by helicopter to hospital but died later.
US TV networks have been showing a video, released by Mohave County Sheriff’s officials, of the moments before the shot. In it, Mr Vacca can be heard congratulating the girl before saying: “All right, full auto!” Then comes a spray of bullets before the video cuts off.
The shooting happened at Bullets and Burgers shooting range just outside Las Vegas. The shooting range website says the minimum age for participants is eight, and anyone under the age of seventeen must be accompanied by a parent of legal guardian at all times.
The county sheriff said he would not bring any charges against the shooting range because it is a licensed, legal operation.