Cheney Shooting - No Charges

The investigation into Dick Cheney's shooting of Harry Whittington is complete. The verdict is: no charges.

The sheriff's department determined the shooting was an accident and closed the case without charges, according to a report issued today.

"The report is out. No charges will be filed against anybody -- that's it," Sheriff Ramon Salinas III said.

Chief Deputy Gilbert San Miguel said "our investigation is over. It's a mere hunting accident.'"

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department earlier this week blamed Cheney for the shooting, saying it was his responsibility to know where the other hunters were before he shot. Cheney and Whittington also did not have the $7 stamp on their hunting licenses needed to hunt quail legally in Texas.

The sheriff's department report was based on interviews with Cheney, Whittington and other eyewitnesses.

Of course, Cheney was not interviewed until several hours after the incident. It is unlikely that anyone else who sent a man to the ICU with a shotgun blast to the face would have received such consideration. Let the speculation over that delay and the effect it had on the investigation's outcome go where it will.