It was supposed to be a memorable day for the bride and groom in Big Stone Gap, a small town in Virginia. But instead, the guests watched in shock as a loud gunshot rang through the church, accompanied by the screams and shouts of confusion.
The wedding was taking place at the Appalachian Arts and Culture Center, with the wedding officiant being a local pastor, Thomas H. McCane Jr. As the bride started to march down the aisle, Pastor McCane made an unexpected move: he pulled out a handgun and fired off a warning shot into the air to signal the start of the ceremony.
No one was expecting this and the guests were understandably startled, with some diving under chairs and many crying out in panic. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only surprise the pastor had in store.
Just moments after the shot was fired, a horrified wedding guest cried out, revealing that the bullet had found an unintended target. McCane’s grandson, Tyler, had been standing directly behind the pastor when the gun discharged, and the bullet had grazed his chest.
The wedding ceremony was immediately brought to a halt with all eyes on the Reverend McCane, who was visibly distressed and apologizing profusely. Medical personnel were called to the scene and Tyler was taken away and given medical assistance, though thankfully his injuries were not life-threatening.
Despite the shocking turn of events, the bride and groom decided to continue with the ceremony and were married a short time later. McCane apologized several times before blessing the couple and the wedding was considered a success.
It was certainly a surprise for wedding goers; when they were expecting a traditional ceremony, they ended up with excitement, fear, pain, and a happy couple to finish things off. Even after this disastrous incident, the wedding was eventually remembered as a joyous event and a part of the family history.
