Christy Carlson Romano, a former star on the Disney Channel, was injured in a shooting accident while celebrating her husband’s birthday in Austin, Texas on February 7, 2025. The incident occurred during a clay pigeon shooting activity when Romano was hit in the face by pellets discharged from another group’s firearm.
Describing the incident on Instagram, Romano stated, “There was another party with us, and they unsafely fired in the wrong direction and shot me in the face.” The actress, aged 40, sustained injuries in five locations, with one pellet narrowly missing her right eye by less than an inch.
Romano’s husband, Brendan Rooney, who was marking his 42nd birthday, immediately transported her to a local hospital in Austin, Texas. Medical personnel found a fragment lodged behind her eye, which they deemed too perilous to remove surgically. Despite the alarming prognosis, Romano’s vision remained unaffected and she continues to be under medical supervision. The medical team spent significant time cleaning and evaluating each injury, particularly those around her right eye and forehead where fragments were still embedded.
Romano, known for her resilience, had recently participated in “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” a reality show that involved strenuous military-style training exercises with other celebrities. The physically and mentally taxing show potentially prepared her for this unforeseen adversity.
With a career in the entertainment industry spanning over two decades, Romano got her start as Ren Stevens in “Even Stevens” (2000-2003), acting alongside Shia LaBeouf. She later voiced the main character in the animated series “Kim Possible” (2002-2007), which aired for 87 episodes and led to two Disney Channel original movies. This voice work resulted in a Daytime Emmy nomination and solidified Romano as a prominent talent on Disney Channel in the early 2000s.
The mother of two, Isabella Victoria, 8, and Sophia Elizabeth, 5, uploaded a video revealing the extent of her injuries, including a small cut below her eye and noticeable bruising where the fragments had hit her. “I love my daughters, husband, family, and friends so much. I saw my life flash before my eyes,” Romano shared, expressing her gratitude towards the medical team for their outstanding care.
Romano’s husband of 11 years, whom she met while studying at Barnard College, offered emotional support, stating in response to the incident, “You are the bravest, toughest, most stoic and badass woman I have ever met. I am so thankful you are alive. I am so thankful you are the mother to our children. I wouldn’t know what to do without you. I love you more than life itself.”
The shooting range where the incident occurred specializes in clay pigeon shooting, a sport where participants aim at clay discs launched into the air to emulate the unpredictable flight of birds. It is a favored activity for hunters and recreational shooters to hone their skills. The range caters to everyone from novices to experienced shooters, with stringent safety measures in place to prevent accidents.
Throughout her recovery, Romano retained her sense of humor despite the seriousness of her injuries. She humorously told her husband, “God saved me so I could tell you to clean up your empty cans around the house.” In her most recent video update, she stated, “Everything’s kinda clearing out, but got to say I got shot in the face and lived to tell the tale.” Rooney later shared her video on his Instagram Stories with the simple message, “Kiss your loved ones.”
