If a child discharges a firearm and causes SBI or death, the offense is:

• A. Class B Misdemeanor
• B. Class A Misdemeanor
• C. Class C Misdemeanor
• D. Felony

Answer: (B)

In this situation the key idea is deadly conduct: firing a gun in a way that places another person in imminent danger of serious bodily harm. That conduct is graded at the Class A misdemeanor level in Texas when the act itself creates a real risk, even though the outcome might later become more serious if someone is seriously harmed or killed. So the best fit for the described act—a child discharging a firearm and creating a dangerous situation—is a Class A misdemeanor because it reflects the serious risk involved and the typical charge for this kind of dangerous behavior. If actual serious injury or death had occurred as a result, other, more severe charges could apply, but the scenario as stated points to the Class A category for the act of discharging in a risky manner. The other options are either too lenient for the level of risk (Class B or Class C) or too severe given the specifics of the act (a felony would be reserved for the actual resulting injury or a different set of circumstances).