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Florida teen dies after being hit by falling sword

A teenager died after he was slashed by a sword that dislodged from the wall of his bedroom while he was playing ball with his siblings, authorities said.
/ Source: The Associated Press

A teenager died after he was slashed by a sword that dislodged from the wall of his bedroom while he was playing ball with his siblings, authorities said.

Joshua Hershberger, 15, was sitting on the floor of his bedroom Monday night, bouncing a ball with his 9-year-old sister and 14-year-old brother when the ball bounced up and knocked a 29-inch (74-centimeter) sword off the wall, where it was displayed, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.

The high school sophomore was slashed in the shoulder and neck and was pronounced dead at a hospital in this Tampa suburb.

The death is being considered an accident and no charges are expected to be filed.