As of “press time,” 20 people had accidentally shot themselves during the week beginning February 5. That’s a little on the high end, but not very far out of keeping with routine. The week’s list also included six minors accidentally shot (and three shootings by kids under age six, not including those who accidentally shot themselves), five accidental gun fatalities, five people who accidentally fired guns they were cleaning, and five people who accidentally fired guns while they were out and about with the rest of us, shopping, dining, staying at hotels, etc. And, as usual, there were multiple incidents of members of the military and law enforcement officers involved in GunFAIL incidents of various kinds, hunting accidents, and “home invasion shootings,” where friendly gun enthusiasts (accidentally) include their neighbors in their activities, sending discharged bullets into their homes and properties without waiting for an invitation.
Speaking of accidentally firing into a neighboring property, and of accidentally firing your guns while you’re out shopping with the rest of us, Florida has got us covered on both counts. On February 10, in Seminole, a 19-year-old girl was shot in the back while getting a pedicure at Dara’s Nail Salon and Day Spa. I may have the wrong picture in my head, but it seems like getting shot in the back during a pedicure isn’t all that easy. And as it happens, this one had to be pulled off by accidentally firing a .45 through the wall of the gun shop next door. Be aware of who your neighbors are, I guess! Though the owners of the nail salon here could certainly be forgiven for believing the NRA’s propaganda, telling them that the gun shop next door was the safest neighbor anyone could have. If they’re not GunFAIL readers, that is.
The next day, on the opposite coast, a friendly Responsible Gun OwnerTM and concealed carry permit holder accidentally dropped his little friend in the Dunkin’ Donuts in Coconut Creek. The floor of the donut shop, which is not licensed to carry firearms irresponsibly fired the weapon, striking a 55-year-old woman, more likely there for donut holes than bullet holes. But what’s a patriotic citizen to do? The concealed carry permit holder was merely exercising his right to keep drop and bear accidentally discharge arms. And at least he did what his concealed carry permit required him to do in such a situation. That is, carry his gun out of the establishment, and conceal himself elsewhere, before the police arrived.
The week’s full slate of GunFAIL appears below.
- SNEADS FERRY, NC, 2/05/17: A Marine was injured over the weekend in what officials are calling an accidental shooting. The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office was called to a home on Hardison Road in Sneads Ferry at 5:45 AM Sunday, said Maj. Chris Thomas. A 23-year-old woman shot a handgun inside the home, and the bullet went through a couple of walls, hitting Jacob Zelie, a Camp Lejeune Marine, Thomas said. Zelie, age unavailable, was transported to the Naval Hospital on Camp Lejeune where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Thomas said he is expected to make a full recovery. Thomas said the sheriff’s office is not releasing the alleged shooter’s blood alcohol level or name due to the ongoing investigation, but Onslow County Sheriff Hans Miller said there was alcohol at the party. “I really think it’s important for people to know that alcohol and firearms do not mix,” Miller said. As of Monday there had been no charges filed against the alleged shooter. “The investigation is still fresh,” Miller said, and Thomas added that at this time it appears to be an accidental shooting. The sheriff’s office is working with the district attorney’s office to determine whether charges will be filed, but Miller said there is a potential for a negligence charge or other charges.
- GREENUP CO., KY, 2/05/17: A 6-year-old girl is still in the hospital with serious injuries after troopers say she was accidentally shot by a 6-year-old boy at a home on Hoods Run Road in Greenup County Sunday afternoon. “Every hour that goes by, I’m praying that she pulls through,” said the girl’s father, Gary Hamblin. “So I can be able to hold my daughter, one more time.” Hamblin says he was in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for work when he got the call that his daughter had been shot, and was initially told she had died. Trooper Michael Murriell with Kentucky State Police says the girl, a 6-year-old boy, and another small child found the gun in an unsecured wooden cabinet. Hamblin says knowing that the gun wasn’t properly secured is what disturbs him most about a preventable tragedy, and hopes this incident is a lesson to all parents and gun owners to properly secure all firearms. “I am a big supporter of gun safety,” Hamblin said. “Any of you parents out there who have guns, lock them up.” Firearm experts are echoing that same statement. William Bare, owner of Bare Arms Indoor Range in Ashland, is also a retired police officer. At his gun shop, he and his staff stress gun safety to everyone that buys a gun, regardless of it’s their first purchase or not. “Part of being a responsible gun owner is you've got to protect your family,” Bare said. “That's the whole reason why you purchased a gun. So you want to have some type of device that will secure your weapon to keep any unwanted person, a kid another adult, anybody from getting access to the firearm.” Bare says there are several devices on the market for securely storing your gun, from safes, to trigger locks, to even a lock box that can only be opened with a specific fingerprint, and even sets off an alarm if someone else tries to open it. Bare says parents should also have open dialogues with their children about guns and the proper ways to handle a gun. “I took the mystery out of it with my children,” Bare said. “I showed them that anytime they wanted to look at the firearm, that I would get it down, show it to them, and make sure it's safe to where they could touch it.” Bare says simply telling a child to not touch a gun if they find it isn’t enough. Trooper Murriell says a child’s curiosity will quickly take over if they come across one. We all know that children are curious and that curiosity can put them in a lot of danger at times,” Murriell said. Firearm experts say the misuse of handguns is a leading contributor to juvenile fatalities, and safely securing firearms from children will help prevent accidents and save lives. Bare says his gun range even offers gun safety classes to both children and adults, and are even required by law to give customers a safety pamphlet when they buy a gun. Hamblin says his daughter’s injuries are serious, including a shattered shoulder, broken ribs, and punctured lung. “If you're a responsible adult and you want to own guns, take the proper precautions to do it,” Hamblin said. “Do not let another child, another angel that was given to you, get hurt." No charges have been filed in the shooting. The incident is under investigation by Kentucky State Police.
- OPELOUSAS, LA, 2/05/17: A 15-year-old Opelousas boy who was shot in the head Sunday died Monday afternoon. The Opelousas Police Department responded to the report of a gunshot victim in a home in the 600 block of Pulford Street shortly after 2 PM Sunday. He was transported to Lafayette General Hospital on Sunday in critical condition, according to Chief of Police Donald Thompson. There has not been an arrest made connected to the shooting, and Sgt. Crystal Leblanc said detectives are unaware of a motive behind the shooting as of now. UPDATE: New information is being released on the shooting death of an Opelousas teen. According to investigators, the 15-year-old teenager accidentally shot himself. Opelousas Police are continuing to investigate an unrelated shooting at the same home last week. Someone fired twenty-five shots into the house in the 600 block of Pulford Street; no one was injured in that shooting.
- ELDRIDGE, MO, 2/05/17: A Laclede County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to Mercy Hospital Lebanon at about 9 PM Sunday for a report of an accidental gunshot wound. According to a report from the Laclede County Sheriff’s Office, the deputy spoke with a 71-year-old Eldridge man who said that his 27-year-old son had handed him a handgun in his vehicle and he did not notice the hammer being back. The man said that when he got out of the vehicle, the .45 caliber handgun went off. The man said that a third person immediately drove him to the hospital. The man had a gunshot wound on his left leg about four to five inches above the knee. The deputy wrote that he did not think foul play was involved in the incident.
- MILLEDGEVILLE, GA, 2/05/17: A Milledgeville man was taken to a local hospital Sunday afternoon for treatment of a gunshot wound after he accidentally shot himself, local authorities say. The victim was identified as Homer Lee Hill, of Sparta Highway, N.E., according to an incident report filed by Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Corey McMullen. Hill sustained a wound to his left leg, just above the knee, McMullen said in the report. Firefighters/first responders with Baldwin County Fire Rescue and personnel with Grady/ORMC Emergency Medical Services treated the victim at the scene before he was taken by ambulance to the emergency room of Oconee Regional Medical Center in Milledgeville. McMullen said Hill was sitting on the couch, preparing to clean his Glock 30 .45-caliber handgun when the mishap occurred. At the time, Hill told the deputy he was preparing to remove the gun’s magazine when it accidentally discharged. The bullet went into the victim’s leg and exited, according to Deputy Sgt. Melissa Condon. While inside the victim’s residence, McMullen discovered a hole in a wall caused from the single bullet.
- FORT VALLEY, GA, 2/06/17: At some point Monday evening, 6-year-old Fiya Hollis got his hands on a gun his mother kept for protection. Authorities in Middle Georgia believe the kindergartner played with the gun before it went off and ultimately killed him, according to the Macon Telegraph. “This is a horrible tragedy and we grieve along with the entire Fort Valley community,” Fort Valley police Chief Lawrence Spurgeon said. About 7:55 PM, the Fort Valley Department of Public Safety was dispatched to a shots-fired call at the Indian Oaks apartments, authorities said. Fiya was taken to Peach County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His family told police he was home with his 10- and 13-year-old siblings at the time of the shooting, according to Channel 2 Action News. They said Fiya found the gun in a living room drawer, the television station reported. While neighbors told Channel 2 the child's mother was not home, the Telegraph reported it was not clear where the mother was at the time of the shooting. “Detectives are still in the process of conducting interviews and gathering as much information as possible,” Spurgeon said. The Peach County Division of Family and Children Services is investigating, which is standard procedure in child deaths. The GBI is also investigating the shooting.
- DELRAY BEACH, FL, 2/06/17: A man is hospitalized after accidentally being shot in the abdomen in suburban Delray Beach, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. It happened in the 5000 block of Garfield Road after midnight. Detectives say witnesses told them the man shot himself by accident. He was transported to a local trauma center. His condition is not known. Detectives are continuing to investigate the case.
- FRAZEE, MN, 2/06/17: At about 7 PM Monday, a man reportedly shot himself at 515 East Main St. in Frazee. Preliminary investigation indicates Jared Hanson, 27, Frazee, was handling a revolver when he accidentally pulled the trigger. The projectile struck Hanson in his right hip. Hanson was taken to St. Mary’s-Essentia Hospital, Detroit Lakes, and later transferred to a Fargo area hospital. Assisting agencies include Minnesota State Patrol, Frazee Rescue, Frazee Fire Department, St. Mary’s emergency medical service and the Becker County Sheriff’s Office. The incident remains under investigation.
- PRESTON, MN, 2/06/17: A 29-year-old Chatfield man hunting coyotes near the Fillmore County Airport on Monday accidentally shot himself in the foot, according to law enforcement. Fillmore County Sheriff Tom Kaase issued a statement Tuesday that said the man was a passenger in a vehicle around 5 PM, when he reportedly shot himself in the foot with a high-powered rifle. The injury was not life threatening, Kaase said. The man was taken to Mayo Clinic Hospital - Saint Marys Campus in Rochester by the Preston Ambulance Service. The shooting is being investigated by the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
- BRIDGEPORT, CT, 2/06/17: Police say the suspect in an armed robbery Monday night accidentally shot himself in the leg when he struggled with a police sergeant taking him into custody. Steven Nieves, 31, entered the business at 375 Capitol Avenue shortly before 9 PM, displayed a firearm and ordered the clerk to hand over money, Capt. Brian Fitzgerald said. The clerk complied and Nieves fled on foot with the cash, he said. City land records indicate that Mike’s Grocery is the store at 375 Capitol Avenue. Officers dispatched to the scene began canvassing the area and Sergeant James Geremia located the suspect on Main Street near Charles Street, Fitzgerald said. “A physical altercation occurred and the perpetrator... resisted arrest and assaulted the sergeant,’’ the police spokesman said. “During the struggle, Nieves reached for a small handgun that was in his pants pocket and the weapon discharged. Nieves was struck by a single bullet and sustained a gunshot wound to his leg.’’ Geremia was able to call for backup and Nieves was taken into custody. Both Nieves and Geremia were transported to St. Vincent's Medical Center for treatment, Fitzgerald said. Geremia was treated for minor injuries and released, and Nieves was also treated and released to police custody. The suspect is being held on a $250,000 bond on charges of first-degree robbery, criminal possession of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, assault on a police officer, reckless endangerment, threatening and carrying a pistol without a permit.
- ATHENS, AL, 2/07/17: A woman was treated for a minor injury Tuesday night after an accidental shooting in a room at the Bomar Inn in Athens. Police and medical personnel were called to the motel shortly after 6 PM after receiving a call from a 24-year-old female. Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said the woman told investigators she sat down on the bed and leaned in such a way it caused the gun to discharge, striking her in the side. Johnson said the woman was interviewed by investigators at the scene and then was transported to Athens-Limestone Hospital with a not life threatening injury. He added she was discharged from the hospital shortly after being treated.
- SHREVEPORT, LA, 2/07/17: Shreveport police investigators believe a toddler got hold of an off-duty officer's gun and accidentally shot an 11-year-old in his legs. Now the wounded child's father claims police threatened to arrest him if he didn't leave the hospital where his son was taken. Michael Gipson says it's just the latest confrontation with Shreveport police because his son's mother is an officer with the department. KSLA News 12 now has learned that police Cpl. Latoyia Marsden has been placed on paid administrative leave. The shooting happened at Marsden's home, police Cpl. Marcus Hines confirmed. It wasn't until the morning of Feb. 8 that Gipson actually get to speak with his son over the phone. "I asked, 'Where did you get shot at?' He said, 'At my Mom('s) house.'" Gipson said he rushed to see his son the night of Feb. 7 at University Health. When Gipson arrived at the Shreveport hospital, he said he was told his son was in the seventh-floor burn unit. Gipson asked a security guard why his son was up there? "He said, 'I don't know. It's like they put him away from everybody else, got him isolated from everybody else and the only people that's going up and down is Shreveport police'." Gipson said he waited until an officer came down the elevator. "And I asked him about going up to see my son. He just stood there and looked at me for a long time." A short time later, another officer came down. Gipson asked again to see his son. "They said, 'Sorry, sir, but we can't escort you up.' I said, 'Why?' They said, 'Well, you don't have custody of the son.'" Gipson said he explained that he has joint custody but was told his Mom said "no" and claims the officers threatened to arrest him if he didn't leave. It's the latest in six years of trouble with the boy's Mom, Gipson said. "Every time she get upset, this happens. Only when she gets upset or she feels a certain type of way, she always throws a charge on me." KSLA News 12 tried to reach Marsden for comment but, as of this writing, had been unable to do so. KSLA News 12 has learned that the wounded child was listed in serious condition. As for the ongoing dispute with his ex, Gipson said he's already spent thousands of dollars over the years fending off criminal charges accusing him of abusing his son. Gipson said he's now hired an attorney who is preparing to file a civil rights case against Shreveport police once the final abuse charge against him is dropped.
- LAMOURE CO., ND, 2/07/17: A 57 year-old man from outside North Dakota has died in an apparent accidental shooting northeast of Edgeley. LaMoure County Sheriff Bob Fernandes says the man was among 3 people hunting coyotes. The 911 call came in at around 11:20 this morning. Fernandes says the body has been sent to the State Medical Examiner in Bismarck. He says the victim died at the scene. Fernandes says the shooting does not appear suspicious. MORE: The victim of a deadly accidental shooting in North Dakota has been identified as a 57-year-old Minnesota man. Ronald Rechtzigel of Cannon Falls died Tuesday near Edgeley in Lamoure County in North Dakota. Sheriff Bob Fernandes says Rechtzigel was with two others who were hunting coyotes in a field while there was blowing and drifting snow. The sheriff did not say whether the victim was shot by his own rifle, or by one of the other hunters.
- BALDWIN CITY, KS, 2/07/17: The Baldwin City Police Department is attempting to identify two men seen leaving the scene of a shooting Tuesday evening. Baldwin City Police Chief Greg Neis said the 26-year-old man who was shot is not cooperating with investigators in the case. The man was shot shortly after 8 PM Tuesday at 920 Deer Ridge Court in Baldwin City. He has refused to help identify two men who left the home after the shooting, Neis said. Investigators do not think the man’s wound was the result of violent intent, the chief said. “There’s nothing to indicate this was anything but an accidental shooting,” he said. Neis said the single bullet that passed through the man’s lower abdomen did not hit any major organs, he said. He is recovering in Overland Park Regional Hospital from the non-life-threatening wound, he said. The slug was recovered during the execution of a search warrant, but Neis said he did not yet know its caliber. Police have not yet recovered the weapon, which police are assuming was a handgun, Neis said. The man, who is a resident of the duplex in which the shooting occurred, has stopped talking to investigators, Neis said. He previously told officers he accidentally shot himself, but that explanation was not consistent with the bullet’s trajectory, the chief said. Two witnesses said they saw two men leave the scene shortly after the shooting, Neis said. Neither witness could identify the two men, he said. “That’s the focus of our investigation — identifying those two men,” Neis said.
- BOULDER CITY, NV, 2/07/17: A man accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun and the bullet went through his left thigh without hitting any bones or arteries. The man drove himself to the hospital; an ambulance drove him to University Medical Center of Southern Nevada.
- COLUMBUS, GA, 2/08/17: The second Wednesday shooting occurred on Oakley Drive at 8:10 PM. The victim, Dynasty Marshall, was last listed as unsatisfactory. According to investigators, Marshall's boyfriend believed the safety was on a gun, and accidentally shot her.
- BOSTON, MA, 2/08/17: At about 12:45 AM on Wednesday February 8, 2017, officers assigned to District B-3 (Mattapan) arrested German Soriano, 42, of Mattapan, on firearm related charges after investigating an apparent accidental discharge inside his apartment located at 10 Elisabeth Street in Mattapan. Officers later executed a search warrant at the address which led to the recovery of a loaded 9mm Ruger handgun. The suspect will appear in Dorchester District Court on charges of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition and Discharging a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Dwelling.
- JERSEY CITY, NJ, 2/08/17: A 24-year-old Jersey City man faces gun charges after police say he shot himself in the genitals on Wednesday. Jarius Owen-Izzard, of the 100 block of Wilkinson Avenue, is charged with weapons offense related to a .22 caliber handgun including possession of a weapon by a felon, the criminal complaint says. Officers responding to a report of shots fired at Ocean and Arlington avenues found Owen-Izzard at Wilkinson and Arlington avenues suffering from a gunshot wound to the groin, the complaint says. An official said Owen-Izzard told police he was a victim of a shooting, but officers inspected his pants and found no hole where the bullet would have had to enter to strike his genitals. There were holes in his pants where the bullet entered and exited his leg. Police believe the gun was in Owen-Izzard's waistband when it fired, the complaint says. Owen-Izzard was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center for treatment and he made his first court appearance on the charges yesterday in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny.
- SAMMAMISH, WA, 2/09/17: At 7:47 PM, police received a report of an accidental shooting at Eastlake High School. A man accidentally shot himself in the hand while trying to disassemble his Glock 42 pistol. The man drove himself to Evergreen Hospital for treatment.
- WILSON, KS, 2/09/17: A Wilson teenager was taken to Salina Regional Health Center Thursday afternoon after suffering an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound at a Wilson residence. According to Wilson Police Chief Bob Doepp, the incident is under investigation. The shooting is believed to be accidental. The shooting occurred just ahead of 4 PM at a home in the 400 block of 30th Street in Wilson. The juvenile's name will not be released. Doepp described the injuries as serious. According to the Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office, Wilson Police, Ellsworth County Deputies, Ellsworth County EMS, a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper and a Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Officer responded to the shooting.
- NORTON SHORES, MI, 2/09/17: A newly-minted Newaygo County sheriff’s deputy faces a misdemeanor charge after accidentally shooting himself in the leg while off-duty. Andrew Mulder, 27, is being charged with possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. Mulder last week accepted a part-time deputy position, but “never served on active duty,’’ Newaygo County Administrator Christopher Wren said in a statement released Friday. “As of today’s date, Mr. Mulder is not an employee of the department.’’ Norton Shores police were called to Mulder’s home at 3:52 AM Thursday on a report of an accidental shooting. He was shot in the leg with a handgun, but it was not immediately known if it was his police-issued sidearm. Mulder was treated for a non-life threatening wound to his leg. The Muskegon County Prosecutor’s office on Friday, Feb. 10 authorized a warrant charging him with the misdemeanor offense, which is punishable by up to 93 days in jail. It was not immediately known when he is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment.
- OAK HILL, WV, 2/09/17: A 5-year-old child has been injured after being accidentally shot by a younger sibling. Fayette County Sheriff Mike Fridley says the child was shot Thursday night near Oak Hill. The child was taken to Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill with non-life-threatening injuries. Few details have been released. A preliminary investigation indicates the child was shot on accident by a younger sibling. Fridley wouldn't disclose whether the parents might face charges relating to child neglect, but said Child Protective Services is investigating.
- SUGARLOAF TOWNSHIP, PA, 2/09/17: Only about 4 feet separated an accidentally fired bullet from a man in a Sugarloaf Township hotel room Thursday night. Township police were dispatched by Luzerne County 911 around 6:15 PM to Comfort Inn, Route 93, for a report of a gunshot fired. When they arrived, they learned a guest staying in room 133 reported that the bullet came through his wall from room 135, missing him by a few feet. Police said they identified the occupants of room 135 as Zachary R. Christopher, 22; Antony L. Minish, 41; and Darian S. Spicer, 22, all of Alabama. All three were taken into custody without incident. Spicer was detained in a hallway and officers found Minish and Christopher in the hotel bar, arrest papers state. The investigation showed Christopher accidentally discharged the round through the hotel wall while looking at a Taurus 9mm handgun Spicer just obtained. Christopher, arrest papers state, told police Spicer removed the loaded magazine and a round from the chamber and placed the magazine back into the gun before giving it to him. Christopher said he pulled back the slide and unknowlingly pushed a round into the chamber. Not realizing the weapon was still loaded, he then pulled the trigger, arrest papers state. The bullet went through the wall and into room 133, where it passed through a headboard, court papers state, and stopped in the wall between rooms 133 and 131. Spicer located the spent shell casing in their room and Christopher placed it into his pants pocket, where police found it, according to arrest records. The handgun used in the incident, as well as a second gun which was reported stolen in Gadsden, Alabama, were recovered by police in Minish’s vehicle in the hotel parking lot, police wrote. Minish initially gave police a false name, stating he had a warrant for his arrest. He was charged with false identification to police and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Joseph Zola, Hazleton, who set bail at $2,500. Christopher and Spicer were charged with reckless endangerment, hindering apprehension and disorderly conduct. Spicer also faces counts of firearms not to be carried without a license and receiving stolen property. They were also arraigned by Zola, who set their bail at $10,000 each. None of the men were able to post bail and were remanded to Luzerne County Correctional Facility, Wilkes-Barre.
- BETHLEHEM, PA, 2/09/17: An 18-year-old man found a gun Thursday night on a Bethlehem street, and was examining the gun when it accidentally fired, city police said. Nysheed Gleaton panicked, put the .380-caliber handgun in his pocket and ran into his house in the first block of West Goepp Street, police said. Gleaton then stowed the gun in a toilet, according to police. Gleaton was arrested and charged Friday with receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license, reckless endangerment and discharging a firearm where it is prohibited. Gleaton was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail. Bethlehem police were called for a report of shots fired at about 10:30 PM Thursday near West Goepp and North New streets. "Numerous" witnesses reported they heard what sounded like two gunshots on West Goepp Street, and saw a man in a dark hooded sweatshirt and jeans, police said. Officers began searching the area, when one of them saw a man matching the description running away and into 50 W. Goepp St., police said. Police made contact with the man, who was identified as Gleaton, and other residents in the house. Gleaton reportedly told police he was on a walk when he found the gun, and that it was fired on Radley Street at West Goepp Street. A resident in the home allowed police to search, and officers found the handgun in the toilet, police said. The gun was reported stolen in December, according to police. Investigators also found two .380-caliber casings on Radley Street.
- MASURY, OH, 2/09/17: A Masury man tells police he didn't think the gun was loaded when he allegedly shot a fourteen-year-old boy. Samual Sanford, 25, is in the Trumbull County jail awaiting an arraignment next week in Trumbull County Eastern District Court on charges of felonious assault and receiving stolen property. Brookfield Police Chief Dan Faustino tells 21 news that three people were in a Nellie Street apartment Thursday afternoon when the teen was shot once in the stomach. Police say that according to information gathered during interviews with Sanford and a witness, Sanford pointed the gun at the teen and pulled the trigger. Sanford told investigators he thought the gun was unloaded. 21 News spoke with the boys mother, Teri, who says her son, Michael Davis Jr., was listed in stable condition Thursday night after surgery at St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Another surgery is planned for next week. Chief Faustino says detectives have not been able to interview the teen to get his side of the story. Sanford is charged with receiving stolen property because the teen was shot with a .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun police say was reported stolen in Sharon, Pennsylvania in 1995.
- MOUNT VERNON, OH, 2/10/17: On 2-10-17, an officer responded to a Sychar Rd. address in reference to a female who had shot herself in the hand with a Derringer .22 pistol. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the neighbor who called in the incident. The neighbor stated the female called her and said she was cleaning the gun and it discharged, hitting her in the hand. The female was transported to KCH to be treated. The report will be forwarded to them prosecutor for review. The officer took possession of the gun and placed it into evidence.
- ALBANY, NY, 2/10/17: In Albany, New York yesterday (Friday) a firefighter at the Arbor Hill Fire Station ended up with a hand wound after a gun accidentally discharged in the firehouse. The chief of the Albany Fire Department says an investigation is underway by the Albany Police Department. The chief told WNYT-TV that disciplinary action, if any, won’t occur until the police investigation has been completed.
- ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 2/10/17: Albuquerque police say officers accidentally shot the victim of an attempted carjacking as they aimed for the armed man who was trying to steal her vehicle. Officer Simon Drobik said during a news conference Monday that three officers opened fire during Friday's shooting, striking the victim once. The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Lee Brandenburg, was hit multiple times in the legs. Both are recovering, and Drobik said Brandenburg would face charges of attempted armed robbery and aggravated assault once he's released from the hospital. Drobik said the events unfolded quickly and the officers felt they needed to take action to stop Brandenburg. He said the shooting remains under investigation. At the time of the shooting, Brandenburg was wanted on felony warrants. Authorities said he had been arrested several times last year.
- NIXA, MO, 2/10/17: A Nixa woman is facing charges of assault and armed criminal action after she allegedly shot her husband Feb. 10 during a dispute at their home. Chadia A. Ladbasri, 36, is charged with second-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action. According to the probable cause statement, officers responded to a disturbance at the residence when Ladbasri “ran out of the house and stated she shot her husband.” The statement says officers noted a “strong odor” of alcohol on her breath. The victim also exited the house and had a gun-shot wound to his left hip. He said Ladbasri shot him. Ladbasri told officers she was arguing with her husband but that the argument was only verbal in nature prior to the shooting. “Chadia informed me under Miranda that she went into the master bedroom of their shared residence to retrieve the gun and shot the gun in an attempt to scare her husband, but accidentally shot him,” the statement says. “Chadia stated she wanted (the victim) to leave the residence.” The victim was transported to a Springfield hospital with non-life threatening injuries. According to Case.net, a warrant was issued Feb. 11 for Ladbasri’s arrest, with $75,000 bond. As of Headliner News press time, the warrant had not been served.
- SEMINOLE, FL, 2/10/17: Pinellas County Sheriff’s detectives say they are investigating an accidental shooting at a gun store that seriously injured a 19-year-old woman in unincorporated Seminole. According to detectives, at about 6:30 PM on Friday, February 10th, deputies were called to Dara’s Nail Salon and Day Spa located at 9049 Starkey Road, in unincorporated Largo, for a female victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Detectives say that 43-year-old Mark Smith, an employee at the neighboring business, R&R Firearms, located at 9051 Starkey Road, was unloading a customer’s .45 caliber handgun inside the gun shop and when he was clearing the loaded firearm, he pulled the slide back and emptied the chambered round from inside the firearm. When Smith sent the slide forward on the handgun, deputies say there was a magazine with ammunition still inside the handgun and the gun accidentally discharged and the projectile from the handgun traveled southbound, through the adjoining wall, and into the salon and spa. Detectives say 19-year-old Yaminah Gilbert was seated in a salon chair getting a pedicure at the nail salon when she felt the pain from the projectile striking her in the back. At the time, deputies say Gilbert was unaware of what happened until Smith came forward and reported the accidental discharge. Deputies say Gilbert suffered a gunshot wound to her back and was transported to Bayfront Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries. Gilbert was released from the hospital late on Friday according to authorities. No arrests have been made in this case.
- COCONUT CREEK, FL, 2/11/17: Police in Coconut Creek are investigating what was believed to be an accidental shooting at a donut shop Saturday morning. Officials say the incident took place inside the Dunkin’ Donuts off State Road 7 south of Johnson Road around 8:30 AM. Initial evidence showed a man inside may have dropped a firearm out of his clothing when hit the ground and went off. A 55-year-old woman was struck and taken to an area hospital, where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries.The man left the scene in a white four door Mazda. The man, 38-year-old Randy Barroso, later surrendered to police along with his lawyer, officials said. Barroso was cooperative and gave a statement to detectives saying the shooting was unintentional, police said. He has a concealed carry permit and does not have a criminal arrest record, police said. Police arrested Barroso for culpable negligence and he was booked into the Broward County jail on $500 bond. Dunkin' Donuts issued a statement, saying in part that "the safety and well-being of crew members and customers are our top priority. We are working with our franchisee who is cooperating fully with the police investigating this incident."
- PARKLAND, WA, 2/11/17: One man stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord was seriously wounded and another was arrested after an accidental shooting Saturday at a Parkland apartment, according to Pierce County sheriff’s deputies. The men had been playing with pistols when the shooting happened in the 1000 block of 155th Street Court East about 3:10 PM Saturday, sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said Sunday. The 23-year-old victim was taken to Saint Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma with a gunshot wound, Troyer said. Troyer said the man was in critical condition. A call to hospital spokespeople was not immediately returned. The 22-year-old was booked into Pierce County Jail late Saturday on suspicion of first-degree assault. A JBLM spokesman is working to confirm whether the two are stationed at the base. The men, along with other people with firearms training, were dry-firing pistols in the apartment and training laser sights on one another, Troyer said. The 22-year-old put his pistol’s laser sight on a couple of people in the apartment before training it on the 23-year-old. The 22-year-old pulled the trigger, not knowing there was a round in the chamber, and shot the 23-year-old. “He’s had hours of training with a firearm,” Troyer said. “He should know better.” The 22-year-old performed CPR on the shooting victim until paramedics arrived, Troyer said. MORE: A soldier stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord was arraigned Monday in connection to the recent shooting of a fellow JBLM soldier inside a Parkland apartment. Spc. Thomas P. Popek, 22, was charged with second-degree assault in connection to the Saturday shooting. According to court documents, Popek, an Army Ranger, allegedly shot the 23-year-old victim in the neck at close range. The victim is in critical condition at a local hospital on life support, and is unable to breathe on his own. Pierce County prosecutors may amend the charge against Popek if the victim's condition changes. Popek's next court date is scheduled for March 3, and he is not being held in jail. The incident happened around 3 PM Saturday inside a Parkland apartment along 115th Street Court East. Popek and the victim were getting ready to go to a gun range, according to court documents, and were cleaning their handguns. Popek allegedly pointed a .45 caliber handgun at the victim and, not knowing there was a round in the chamber, pulled the trigger.
- SPANAWAY, WA, 2/11/17: A 33-year-old man was killed after accidentally shooting himself with a handgun in Spanaway late Saturday, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department. The man, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, shot himself about 5:50 PM in a transient camp in the 13100 block of A Street South, sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said Sunday. The man was pronounced dead about 6:15 PM. According to Troyer: Deputies originally investigated the man’s death as a homicide, because the man was shot and ammunition was found on the ground. However,no gun was found, and the stories of individuals interviewed at the scene by officers were inconsistent. Deputies were able to determine that someone picked up the gun and hid it. Witnesses, originally uncooperative, eventually told investigators the man had been dry-firing the weapon and racking rounds in and out of its chamber. The man, who may have been intoxicated, pointed the firearm at himself and pulled the trigger. A chambered round went off and killed him.
- NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX, 2/11/17: A 52-year-old man accidentally shot himself and a 22-year-old woman Saturday night in North Richland Hills, police said. Police arrived in the 6600 block of Onyx Drive North about 6:30 PM Saturday. The man was handling the weapon when it went off and struck the pair, police said. Both were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
- FRANKLIN, TN, 2/11/17: Two people were injured in an accidental shooting at a hotel in Franklin. The incident happened before 4 PM Saturday at the Hyatt Place hotel in the 600 block of Bakers Bridge Avenue. Police said a man and a woman were shot inside one of the rooms at the hotel, and it appeared to be a single shot that hit both of them. A preliminary investigation showed the man was mishandling a pistol when he accidentally discharged it. Reports stated the two who were injured were the only two involved in the incident. The two were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with what was believed to be non-life threatening injuries. Their identities had not been released, but authorities had confirmed the man was from Smyrna and the woman was from Shelbyville. Further details were not immediately available as the investigation remained ongoing. Officials were determining if the man would face criminal charges.
- GREENEVILLE, TN, 2/11/17: A man who accidentally shot himself Saturday night was charged Monday with being a fugitive from justice. Jon Brandon Grimes, 36, of 500 Bandy Road, is also charged by sheriff’s deputies with criminal impersonation, possession of a handgun while under the influence and unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon. Deputies went to Grimes’ Bandy Road address about 9:30 PM Saturday on a report of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Grimes allegedly gave deputies a false name and date of birth. A records check showed that person did not exist, and Grimes’ true identity was learned during a follow-up investigation, Deputy Bryan Henderson said in a report. Grimes told deputies he was unloading his .38-caliber Derringer revolver when it went off. Grimes had an “unsteady gait,” slurred speech and his breath smelled of alcohol, the report said. He admitted “consuming alcohol throughout the evening,” it added. A National Crime Information Center check found that Grimes was a convicted felon on parole out of Galveston County, Texas, and is wanted by authorities there, the report said. Further investigation found that Grimes has an active violation of probation warrant from that jurisdiction and Texas authorities will extradite. The report did not specify where Grimes was wounded or if he was taken to a hospital. Grimes was taken into custody on Monday. He is held without bond pending a first scheduled appearance Wednesday in General Sessions Court.
- KENOSHA, WI, 2/11/17: The victim of Saturday’s fatal shooting in Kenosha has been identified as 23-year-old Sean Bialas. Bialas was a quadriplegic man who made headlines three years ago for his troubled past. Balloons, teddy bears, and candles line the staircase up the apartment where Bialas took his last breath. The victim’s mother, Karen Bialas, said she’s wondering how someone could shoot a man who had no way of defending himself. “It ain’t real. How? why?” asked Bialas. Bialas got a call Saturday night, saying she needed to get to her son’s apartment, where he had been shot and killed. “Sean loves everybody,” she said. “Sean puts everyone before himself.” A 15-year-old is now in custody in connection to the shooting. Kenosha Police tell TODAY’S TMJ4 this is being investigated as either an accidental shooting, homicide by negligent handling of a deadly weapon, or reckless homicide. “Sean couldn’t even hold a gun,” said Bialas. Bialas said her son was confined to a wheelchair, leaving him helpless in that situation. “Sean had no use of his fingers after being a quadriplegic,” she said. Back in 2014, Bialas was paralyzed after corrections officers were called to his cell at the Kenosha County Jail. They were trying to place him in a restraint chair. After the incident, Bialas was no longer able to use his legs or fingers. “If my baby wouldn’t have been paralyzed he wouldn’t have been here and this wouldn’t have happened,” said Bialas. Bialas said she will continue to fight for justice in the incident that left him debilitated, and now the shooting that took his life. “He’ll never be forgotten, Sean will always be in everyone’s heart and mind, Sean is with us everyday,” she said. Bialas’ friends and family gathered at Northport Baptist Church in Kenosha Tuesday night for a memorial service, followed by a candlelight vigil at the scene of the shooting.
- RYE, NH, 2/11/17: The town's police and fire departments responded to the scene of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound Saturday morning at a residence on Sagamore Road. The call came in around 11:04 AM, according to Rye Fire Lt. Ron Hordon, who said a man "in his 30s" was cleaning a handgun that discharged, striking him in the vicinity of his groin. "He had a significant injury, but not life-threatening," Hordon said. The man was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital. No further information was released by the Rye police or fire departments.
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