Christy Carlson Romano, a former Disney Channel star, was injured in a shooting accident during a birthday celebration for her husband in Austin, Texas, on February 7, 2025. The incident occurred when Romano was inadvertently hit in the face by pellets from a gun fired by members of another party.
Romano, who was escorting her husband to a clay pigeon shooting event as a birthday gift, reported on Instagram that the other party had fired in an unsafe direction, hitting her in the face. The 40-year-old actress was struck in five different locations, with one of the projectiles narrowly missing her right eye.
Following the incident, Brendan Rooney, Romano’s husband, rapidly conveyed her to a nearby hospital in Austin, Texas. Medical staff there found a fragment lodged behind her eye and deemed it too dangerous to remove surgically. Despite the alarming discovery, Romano still retains normal vision and continues to be monitored by doctors. The medical personnel painstakingly cleaned and examined each wound, particularly around her right eye and forehead, where fragments remained lodged.
Romano, who recently displayed her resilience on the reality show “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” by enduring grueling military-style training exercises with other celebrities, has shown the same strength during her recovery from this unforeseen incident. The challenging reality show experience may have inadvertently prepared her for this unexpected ordeal.
Romano, whose career in entertainment spans over twenty years, first gained fame as Ren Stevens in “Even Stevens” (2000-2003) alongside Shia LaBeouf. She later provided the voice for the lead character in the animated series “Kim Possible” (2002-2007), which aired 87 episodes and inspired two Disney Channel original films. Her work on the show earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination and cemented her status as a recognizable talent on the Disney Channel in the early 2000s.
Romano, who is a mother to two daughters – Isabella Victoria, 8, and Sophia Elizabeth, 5 – released a video detailing her injuries, which include a small cut below her eye and noticeable bruising from the impact of the fragments. “I saw my life flash before my eyes,” Romano said, expressing her gratitude for the medical staff, who she described as “superhero-like people who take care of us at our most desperate times.”
Romano’s husband, Rooney, whom she met at Barnard College and has been married to for 11 years, expressed his emotional support: “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 accident occurred specializes in clay pigeon shooting, a sport where participants aim at clay discs launched into the air to simulate the erratic flight of birds. This popular activity allows hunters and recreational shooters to hone their skills. The range has strict safety measures and welcomes everyone from beginners to experienced shooters.
Despite the serious nature of her injuries, Romano has managed to maintain her sense of humor during her recovery. She humorously told her husband, “God saved me so I could tell you to clean up your empty cans around the house,” and acknowledged, “I dunno laughter helps.” In a recent video update, she noted, “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 brief message, “Kiss your loved ones.”