Former Disney Star Christy Carlson Romano Feared She Would Die After Terrifying Shooting Accident Left Pellets Near Her Eye

Christy Carlson Romano, best known for her roles in Disney Channel’s Even Stevens and as the voice of Kim Possible, has revealed how a frightening shooting accident left her fearing for her life. The actress was struck by shotgun pellets during a clay pigeon shooting outing in Texas in February 2025. More than a year later, fragments remain lodged near her eye, and she says a shift in their position could threaten her vision. In a recent interview, Romano opened up about the terrifying experience and how it changed her outlook on life.

The accident happened while Romano and her husband, Brendan Rooney, were celebrating his birthday. The couple had joined a group for an outdoor clay pigeon shooting activity, a sport in which participants use shotguns to hit clay targets launched into the air. Romano said another person in their party fired in her direction from approximately 250 feet away, causing birdshot pellets to strike her face and forehead. She described the incident as the result of irresponsible firearm handling.

Romano recalled collapsing after being struck and struggling to understand what had happened. Her vision began to blur, and she feared she might not survive. In her memoir, Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Rise and Fall of a Child Star, she described thinking about her two daughters and wondering whether she was going to die. The frightening moment quickly became a desperate race to obtain medical care, with her husband and others rushing to help her.

Doctors later determined that some of the pellets had lodged dangerously close to important structures around her eye. According to Romano, one fragment remains approximately one millimeter away from a critical area. Her surgeon explained that the pellets narrowly missed her eyeball, optic nerve and eye muscles. Although removing the fragments could potentially prevent future complications, doctors determined that surgery would pose additional risks, so they were left in place.

The actress has said that the possibility of losing her sight remains a concern. If a fragment moves, it could cause serious damage to her vision. Despite the frightening prognosis, Romano described her recovery as remarkable and expressed gratitude to the medical professionals who treated her at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center in Texas. She has also continued sharing her experience publicly, hoping that being honest about the ordeal will help others appreciate how quickly life can change.

The accident has prompted Romano to reflect more deeply on motherhood, faith and the way she wants to live. She explained that having children made the possibility of dying especially overwhelming because she immediately thought about what would happen to her daughters. The experience also encouraged her to reconsider her priorities after years of navigating the pressures and challenges of growing up in the entertainment industry.

Romano’s new memoir explores more than the shooting incident. She also writes about her experiences as a child star, the difficulties of growing up in Hollywood and the personal struggles that shaped her life. Known for her Disney roles, she has increasingly spoken candidly about the less glamorous side of early fame. She hopes that sharing her story will help readers who have faced difficult experiences feel less alone.

Today, Romano says personal growth and faith have become important parts of her life. Although she is grateful to have survived the accident, the fragments remaining near her eye serve as a lasting reminder of how close she came to a far worse outcome. Her story is both a warning about the importance of responsible firearm handling and a deeply personal account of how a sudden emergency can change someone’s perspective on family, purpose and the future.

Sources: New York Post