Okay, compound bow shooters are on a drive to get as much velocity as possible. Bow geometry, lighter arrow shafting--aluminum became fiberglass became carbon fiber. If you shorten the arrow, and use an "overdraw" rest that protrudes inside the limbs a couple of inches, you can use a shorter, lighter, faster arrow (remember, they're using the sharp head for trauma, not mass or energy like a bullet). Then that bow has counterbalances and all kinds of other crap on it. He probably uses a mechanical release button on the string as well-a grip handle with a hook. It's more "consistent," but is another gadget.
So I'm assuming this guy had 2-3" of overdraw and a short arrow, and drew a bit too much, slipped off the rest, and either his release or fingers also slipped as the tension went all screwy, and drove the arrow down and forward.
We were discussing if it's safer to cut the arrow in several sections to disattach him for transport, or if one should just hacksaw his $800 bow to teach him a lesson as well.
I shoot a real longbow with wood shafts, preferably bodkin points for historical accuracy. It won't win any technical awards, but it will severely hurt something's day at 200 yards, and it would be very hard to shoot myself.
