MA Cabela's Sued For Selling Ammo That Killed Unlicensed Owner

WORCESTER, MA — The family of a man who died of a gunshot wound from a black powder revolver is suing Cabela's because the store sold him the ammunition and components of the weapon without checking for a state firearms license.

In a lawsuit filed in Worcester Superior Court April 19, Robert Fillios and Sandra Landon are suing the Cabela's chain on behalf of Justin Fillios. The 20-year-old was trying to free a round stuck in the black powder-fired revolver in February 2020 when it went off and killed him.

According to the lawsuit, a single round from the gun hit Fillios, who attended high school in Marlborough, in the chin and got lodged in his head. He died two days after the accident at UMass Memorial hospital in Worcester.

According to the lawsuit, Fillios bought the gun and ammunition from the Hudson Cabela's store and an employee did not request a firearms identification card during the transaction. Cabela's policy also prohibits anyone under 21 without a state license from buying gun ammunition, the suit says.

Berlin police followed up on the incident, and warned the store to begin checking for FID cards in connection to gun sales, according to the suit.

Cabela's is owned by the Missouri-based Bass Pro Shops company. Both chains are named in the lawsuit, and Fillios' estate is seeking damages for medical costs, and pain and suffering.

Clarification: This article has been updated to clarify that Fillion bought ammunition without an FID card.