Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Waldman's GunFail

Florida man strikes again: Took gun to the movies for safety, shot self in the can. GunFAIL CCXXXVI
By David Waldman  
Nine of the 73 guns discovered in carry-on luggage by TSA agents at airports across the country, during the week of March 6-12, 2017
Nine of the 73 guns discovered in carry-on luggage by TSA agents at airports across the country, during the week of March 6-12, 2017.
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No let-up in early March. Twenty-three people accidentally shot themselves (that we know of), and ten kids were accidentally shot. Four people accidentally shot family members or significant others. Three people accidentally fired their guns while they were out shopping and dining with the rest of us. We also had two each in the categories of accidentally firing weapons while cleaning them, and accidentally firing rounds into neighbors’ homes. You know, an average week.
What’s new and unique from this week? Well, there’s the guy who accidentally shot his Uber driver in the back while moving his gun from one jacket pocket to the other. An elderly gentleman in Cincinnati, confused by the arrival of a firefighter conducting a welfare check, and unresponsive to phone calls and knocks on the door, mistook the firefighter for an intruder and fired at the door he was forcing open. The woman in Virginia who, finding herself involved in an argument, got “protected” right into the hospital by a third party who went to retrieve a gun from elsewhere in the house. To make sure nothing got out of hand, I guess.
And finally, for the topper, yet another Florida gunslinger decided to bring his pistol with him to the movie theater (for “safety,” no doubt), and ended up becoming the theater shooter. Seems he ran into the familiar problem—which nobody seems to have any intent of solving—of what to do with his prized possession while using the facilities. As is the custom, it seems, he went with the old “balance it on top of the toilet paper dispenser” trick. And it actually worked just fine, until he went to return his pistol to its holster, at which point he accidentally fired it and shot himself in the hand. Extreme infection risk, by the way! The man did have a valid concealed carry permit, by the way. But he might as well have used it in the bathroom (if you know what I mean) for all the good the supposedly “rigorous training” did him.
The usual, dismal assortment of incidents and accidents appears below the fold.
  1. EAGLE, ID, 3/05/17: Police are on the scene of reports of an accidental shooting at 5500 block of White Hills Drive in the Avimor subdivision, that is up Highway 55 in Eagle. No word yet if anyone was injured.
  2. LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA, 3/05/17: Two men were injured Sunday evening when a handgun accidentally went off inside an apartment complex in Laguna Niguel, police said. Around 8:30 PM Sunday, a resident on Seafare, a small street off of Seaglen Drive that leads into the complex, was showing off his gun to a visitor when the firearm accidentally discharged, said sheriff’s Lt. Steve Gill. The injuries are not life-threatening, Gill said. The gun owner was taken into custody on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm, but he had not been booked because he was in the hospital.
  3. KALAMAZOO, MI, 3/05/17: A Kalamazoo man is recovering after an accidental shooting. Officers tell us the 25-year-old arrived at Bronson Hospital with a bullet wound to his leg last night around 8 o'clock. After finding the gun used and narcotics, investigators now believe the victim accidentally shot himself. The case has been sent to prosecutors.
  4. UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP, PA, 3/05/17: An Uber driver was shot in the back in the early hours of March 5 on I-78 in Upper Saucon Township by a back seat passenger, who was charged Friday in the incident. The passenger, Stefan E. Zdanowicz, 24, was moving a legally concealed 9 mm handgun from one jacket pocket to another when the gun was accidentally fired, state police said. The bullet hit the driver, Christopher Coulthard, 33, in the back and exited his body, The Morning Call reported. Coulthard called 911 himself and was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital, according to Lehigh Valley Live. He was treated and released. Police said "it was determined that the passenger, Zdanowicz, was highly intoxicated." Zdanowicz, of Bethlehem, was charged with reckless endangerment, simple assault and criminal mischief. He was released on $7,400 bail.
  5. WOODLAND, MS, 3/05/17: Chickasaw County Coroner Michael Fowler confirms the death of a Woodland man in an accidental shooting early Sunday morning. WTVA was told 25 year-old Maurice Chandler was in his home on County Road 269 in Woodland. He and others were inspecting a handgun when it accidentally discharged, striking Chandler in the chest. He was airlifted to the North Mississippi Medical Center for treatment, where he later died. Authorities say there is no reason to suspect foul play.
  6. CLARKSDALE, MS, 3/05/17: A five-year-old male child was found shot in the head Sunday when police responded to a call for help in the 900 block of Page Street. Preliminary investigation shows that the child was transported to the hospital for his injuries. Police say there were two adults and four other children present at the residence when the shooting occurred.
  7. MADISON, AL, 3/05/17: Madison Police have learned who shot a man overnight on Shelton Road. And they say it was all an accident. Police were called to 194 Shelton Road just after 11:00 PM Sunday night after a man went to Madison Hospital with a gunshot wound. The man reported the shooting happened at the Shelton Park Apartments. Officers say the incident happened inside the victim’s apartment. They believe a roommate was handling a loaded pistol when the shot went off. The victim was struck in the neck, but didn’t have life-threatening injuries.
  8. ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, 3/05/17: [S]heriff’s deputies also responded to a home in the 9500 block of County Road 13 in reference to a possible shooting. The deputy who filled out the report said that, once on scene, 23-year-old Austin Troy Wilkerson told him that his friend Grady Daniel Sims, also 23, had shot him in the leg in an apparent accident. Wilkerson and Sims told the deputy that they had been playing with a handgun—listed in the report as a 9mm Glock 19—that they didn’t think was loaded. While sitting on the couch, Sims placed the gun on Wilkerson’s left leg and pulled the trigger. The gun fired, wounding Wilkerson about 6 inches above his knee. Wilkerson’s dad told the deputy the two men have been friends since high school and was unaware of any issues between them. According to the report the father characterized the shooting as a “very stupid accident.” No arrests were made, but the Major Crimes Unit was notified. Wilkerson was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
  9. SMYTH CO., VA, 3/05/17: Officers in the Marion/Adwolfe area are investigating what appears to be an accidental shooting. A medevac helicopter is on the way to the scene, where officers are performing an investigation.
  10. SAVANNAH, GA, 3/05/17: The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department is investigating after a 4-year-old was shot in the hand at the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel on Abercorn Street, near the Truman Parkway a little before 10 AM Sunday morning. The victim's wounds are non-life-threatening. Police say it doesn't appear that there was any criminal intent involved. Police are seeking Anthony Taylor, 41, as a possible suspect in this case. He is described as an African-American male standing at 6'2" and weighing 350 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black Jordan shirt and black Jordan pants. He has short, buzzed hair and low-cut facial hair. He was last seen driving westbound on Abercorn Street in a silver 4-door Dodge with a paper tag.
  11. CINCINNATI, OH, 3/05/17: A veteran who fired gunshots at firefighters doing a welfare check on him at his residence said he thought someone was trying to break in. "The information I received he shot at the top of the door. Fortunately. Had he shot lower, into the door, he would have some firefighters easily," said Reginald Hocker, vice president of the union that represents Cincinnati's firefighters. Fire crews were called to assist police who also were called to check on the man about 9:15 AM Sunday at a home in the 4200 block of Spring Grove Avenue. Lt. Steve Saunders, police spokesman, said officers and firefighters summoned after the elderly man's friends were unable to get a hold of him. His friends were checking on him because he supposed to go to the VA Hospital for treatment. When his friends arrived, Saunders said, the TV was on, but no one answered the door. "Firefighters had to force entry into the property to locate the patient and at that time, gunshots were fired towards fire[fighters]," said District Fire Chief Mike Washington. Police then "neutralized the situation quickly, apprehending the shooter," according to a release from the Cincinnati fire department. A man at the home Sunday identified himself as Kenneth Mullins and said he was the shooter. He didn't want to talk on camera, but off camera he told FOX19 NOW he thought someone was breaking in. Mullins said he didn't hear anyone until that forced entry was made, and that's when he got his gun. No one was hurt. "It was just an unfortunate incident as far as I know," Hocker said. "I don't think that the gentleman was actually was trying to kill firefighters." Washington added: "Around the country, this situation has occurred in the past with other fire departments. Today was no different. There are inherent dangers anytime you're forcing into property." Officials with both the Cincinnati police and fire departments are investigating. The incident is prompting the fire union to call for more safety measures for firefighters. Hocker said they need updated bulletproof vests at all of the city's fire houses. New bulletproof vets are in Downtown firehouses, but not all locations: "The protection that we have isn't throughout the city," he said. Union leaders said they plan to meet this week with fire administrators to discuss Sunday's incident and how to prevent similar ones in the future. Hocker says the union also plans to address what he calls outdated and hand-me-down bulletproof vests.
  12. CINCINNATI, OH, 3/06/17: A West Price Hill man faces several charges in connection with the "accidental shooting" of his 1-year-old daughter, police said. Cortez Reed, 27, is still at large, but police filed three charges against him Monday afternoon. Reed faces charges of endangering children, obstructing official business and tampering with evidence. The shooting was reported at 10:18 AM in the 4200 block of Fehr Road. Police said Reed brought handguns into his home, and one of those guns was used to shoot Reed's 17-month-old daughter in the stomach. "It's a life-threatening situation," Lt. Col. Paul Neudigate, with the Cincinnati Police Dept., said. The little girl was rushed to Cincinnati Children's Hospital and was in surgery at about 11 AM, police said. "The circumstances of how the child was shot are completely unknown," Neudigate said. "We have a couple different stories at this time." Police have described Reed as armed and dangerous. He is biracial, has several facial tattoos, and was wearing red sweatpants and red gym shoes, police said. He is known to frequent several areas in Price Hill. People in the area are advised to use extreme caution and anyone who sees a man matching Cortez's description is asked to call 911. Jacob Harris and Alisha Jones believe they saw Reed shortly after the shooting. They said a man matching Reed's description emerged from a wooded area not far from the scene of the shooting. "We saw a man come running out of the woods with his hood up," Jones said. "We were, like, 'That's odd.'" "(The) man frantically jumped in the car," Harris told WLWT investigator Todd Dykes. "It was so fast. I noticed there was a woman that picked him up. ... I saw the red. I remember the red. I remember the hoodie. I remember it was a newer foreign hatchback. And yeah, I called the police as soon as I realized. We saw… someone's news report, it might have been yours on Facebook. And we went, 'Ah.' It clicked ." "It's scary," Jones added. "It's scary, and it's not something we're used to seeing around here." While police said the shooting appears to be accidental, it's not clear why Reed ran away from his home and injured child. According to an affidavit, Reed attempted to dispose of the gun after the shooting, placing it in a box and hiding it in the woods. Those who live nearby said the neighborhood is typically quiet and family-oriented. Jim and Jenny Mirus, who live four doors down, said they've lived in the neighborhood for 40 years. They knew something was wrong when they saw several police cars Monday morning. “We saw a fire truck and several police cars, then more police cars, then news trucks,” Jim Mirus said. “I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ I ran in and told my husband, 'That’s not good. They’ve got yellow caution tape up,’” Jenny Mirus said. She said they have seen children playing in the yard of the home on several occasions. It was the second child shot in Cincinnati this year. In January, a 9-year-old was shot and killed in Mt. Auburn. That killing remains unsolved.
  13. ATLANTA, GA, 3/06/17: Police say a man accidentally shot himself in Atlanta early Monday morning. The incident occurred in the 600 block of Paines Avenue. Police did not provide information on his condition.
  14. CRITTENDEN, KY, 3/06/17: KSP says that a teen in Grant County died after accidentally shooting himself. KSP responded to the call on Kelly Drive in Crittenden about an accidental shooting around 2:20 AM Monday morning. Detectives say that the initial investigation shows that 17-year-old Roy Hamon was manipulating a handgun when he accidentally shot himself in the head. KSP says that at this time, no foul play is suspected.
  15. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 3/06/17: Authorities in Oklahoma City are investigating a reported shooting on the city’s southwest side. Shortly before 2 PM on Monday, officers were called to a shots fired report near S.W. 29th St. and Olie. Investigators learned that two men were fighting when one of them pulled a gun. The pair wrestled over the gun and it went off, hitting a female bystander. The victim flagged down a police officer near S.W. 32nd St. and Shartel and was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
  16. PONCA CITY, OK, 3/06/17: Ponca City police responded to an accidental gunshot wound at 10:40 PM Monday in the 700 block of Monument Road. The injured party was transported by ambulance to the local emergency room. A report was taken.
  17. DEMING, NM, 3/06/17: A 16-year-old male suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound while hunting and trapping with his grandfather. A report indicates the juvenile swung a.22 caliber rifle around and accidentally discharged a round into his lower left leg. The incident occurred near the Tres Hermanas Mountains. The juvenile was transported to Mimbres Memorial Hospital and treated locally.
  18. NORTH PLATTE, NE, 3/06/17: An apparent accidental shooting Monday night sent a young North Platte man to Good Samaritan hospital in Kearney with a head wound and put another teen in jail. The name of the 18-year-old victim has not been released. Police say he was allegedly shot by his relative, Christian Vera, 19, who was showing him a handgun after the two played some video games. Police believe it accidently went off. Spokesman John Deal said officers responded to a 911 call at 8:43 PM in the 1100 block of W. 11th St. When they arrived, they gave medical attention to the victim until an emergency medical team arrived, and when the ambulance left for the hospital, officers talked to several people at the scene, who identified Vera. Deal said police found Vera in an alley behind the home. A mid-size handgun was found nearby in the alley. Vera was taken into custody without incident. Based on evidence and witness statements, investigators believe several people were playing video games inside the home when Vera produced a handgun to show to the victim. “During the process of showing off the handgun, Christian negligently discharged one round that hit the victim in the head,” Deal said. Deal said there is nothing at this time to indicate that any disagreement or quarrel occurred and the incident is believed to be accidental. Deal said Vera and the victim are related to one another. The victim was flown to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. His current condition is unknown, Deal said Tuesday morning. Vera was charged with second-degree assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony and taken to the Lincoln County jail. One of the definitions of second-degree assault in Nebraska is recklessly causing serious bodily injury to another with a dangerous weapon, Deal said. However, the investigation is still active. Police suspect the handgun was stolen, Deal said.
  19. LEAVENWORTH, KS, 3/06/17: While Leavenworth police officers do not necessarily believe a man's story about how he was shot in the arm, authorities still consider the incident to be an accident, a police spokesman said. The incident was reported at about 12:30 AM Monday. Officers were called to Saint Luke's Cushing Hospital for a report of an accidental shooting. A 19-year-old man told police that he accidentally shot himself in his right arm while handling his grandfather's antique .22 caliber pistol, Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens said. The man's injuries were not considered life-threatening. However, officers recovered a 9 mm bullet from the scene where the shooting reportedly occurred. Kitchens said there are several inconsistencies with the story provided by the victim. He said the attention of police is focused on another 19-year-old man who is believed to have been present. Kitchens said the shooting will continue to be classified unless circumstances charge. "But we have quite a bit of work to do to sort out the facts," he said.
  20. ROCKFORD, IL, 3/06/17: Bullets flew on a west Rockford street which was the location of a shooting earlier on Monday. Police responded to the 800 block of N. Court Street a little before 10 p.m. Monday night for calls of shots fired. When officers arrived, they found shell casings in the roadway. No one reported being hit. Early Monday morning, on the same street, a man unintentionally shot himself in the leg. Arthur Swearengen, 55, was arrested as a result. He was also wanted on an unrelated charge out of Cook County.
  21. SNOHOMISH CO., WA, 3/06/17: Police believe a shooting near Lake Stickney on Monday was accidental. A man in his 40s was shot in his hand, said Shari Ireton with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. It happened about 4:30 PM on 12th Place W., between Lynnwood and Everett. The man was alone in the home at the time, Ireton said. He told detectives that he was placing the gun on a table when it fired.
  22. FRESNO, CA, 3/07/17: A man who showed up at Community Regional Medical Center early Tuesday, reporting he was the victim of a gunshot wound, likely sustained a self-inflicted injury, police believe. Sgt. Pete Boyer said the victim told officers he was shot in the leg at a bus stop near Catholic Charities at East Divisadero and North Fulton streets in downtown Fresno. The incident reportedly occurred sometime before 7 AM. Boyer said the victim told officers he walked from the shooting scene to the hospital, a distance of several miles. However, officers could find no blood near the reported shooting scene and the angle of the wound indicated the victim may have shot himself, Boyer said.
  23. MEMPHIS, TN, 3/07/17: A woman accidentally shot herself inside a Memphis Kroger, according to Memphis Police Department. Police said the shooting happened just before 7 PM on Tuesday at Kroger on South Third Street. The victim was taken to the hospital in non-critical condition. Kroger issued the following statement: Tonight, an unfortunate, isolated, accident occurred inside our Southgate Kroger Store. It saddens our Kroger family but we are happy to know the individual is recovering and no one else was harmed.
  24. JACKSON, TN, 3/07/17: An update to breaking news from Tuesday night after a shooting in midtown Jackson. Police told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News, the victim was handling an old rifle without a stock when he accidentally shot himself in the foot around 9:30 PM along Fernlawn Street. No charges are expected.
  25. HOPE, AR, 3/07/17: A Hope business owner is dead after what witnesses said was an accidental shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon. Norman “Bo” Bobo died from injuries sustained after a handgun was reportedly discharged accidentally at his business, B&B Wrecker, in the 400 block of East 3rd St Tuesday, March 7. Hope Police and Pafford EMS were dispatched to B&B Wrecker at approximately 2:27 PM for an accidental gunshot wound. Officers and investigators from the Hope Police Department and the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene quickly, followed directly by two ambulances from Pafford EMS.
  26. TERRELL, TX, 3/07/17: A Terrell man was injured in an accidental shooting on Tuesday night and airlifted to a Dallas-area hospital. At 9:03 PM, on Tuesday, March 7, 2017, the Terrell Police Department responded to the 1000 block of Houston Street on a report a man accidentally shot himself. Police say the man had a derringer-style pistol loaded with .410 buckshot when it accidentally discharged while secured in the front waistband of his pants. The man suffered gunshot injuries to his groin and inner thigh and was transported by CareFlite ambulance to the Terrell Municipal Airport where an awaiting CareFlite medical helicopter further transported him to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas. No foul play was suspected in the shooting incident. The man was convicted of a felony in 2015 and will now likely face charges for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, according to police.
  27. HAYMARKET, VA, 3/07/17: A woman was seriously injured Tuesday night after inadvertently being shot in the leg during an argument by a third party in the 6100 block of Popes Creek Plaza, according to Prince William County Police. Thomas Riley Baggerly, Jr., 48, of the aforementioned address, was charged with reckless handling of a firearm and released with a court summons. Shortly after 8 PM, police responded to the scene and found a 52-year-old Haymarket woman suffering from a serious leg wound, after which she was flown to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said while the victim was involved in an argument with an acquaintance inside the garage of the townhome, another resident went upstairs to get a handgun and then accidentally discharged it. The round went through the floor and hit the victim.
  28. COUER D’ALINE, ID, 3/07/17: 2:13 PM Accidental Shooting—23YO male accidentally shot himself with a pistol through his left hand in North Shire Park/CdA subdivision @ 4100 block of N Abbey Road. He's now en route to Kootenai Health.
  29. BRISTOL, CT, 3/07/17: A New Britain man is facing charges after accidentally firing off a gun in a Bristol home, according to police. Marc Karmelowicz, 35, has been charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm and third-degree criminal mischief. According to police, Karmelowicz was visiting a friend in Bristol on Tuesday at 49 Gridley St. at about 7:15 PM. He had his gun with him in a holster. Police said the gun was legally registered and Karmelowicz had a permit that allowed him to carry a firearm. At some point during the visit, according to police, Karmelowicz took his pistol out of its holster for an unknown reason and accidentally shot one round off. He and his friend were the only ones in the home. Police said the bullet went through a bedroom wall and into a neighbor’s home. No injuries were reported. Karmelowicz was charged and released on a $2,500 non-surety bond. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Bristol Superior Court on March 20.
  30. WESTPORT, CT, 3/08/17: A Westport man is facing charges after he accidentally shot himself in the leg in March. Westport Police served an arrest warrant to Dominic Demace of Westport on Thursday in connection to an incident last month. On March 8, 2017, detective responded to Norwalk Hospital after receiving reports that a resident in town was being treated for a gunshot wound to the left thigh. Officers were told that the incident happened at approximately 6:00 AM that morning on Oak Street in Westport. The patient, Demace, claimed he accidentally shot himself in the leg while he was cleaning a gun. Detectives wanted to further investigate the incident so they served a search warrant on his home. On Thursday, officers responded to Demace’s house to arrest him. He was taken to Westport Police Department Headquarters where he was fingerprinted and photographed without incident. Demace is being charged with reckless endangerment and unlawful discharge of a firearm. Since a juvenile was in the house at the time of the incident, an additional charge of risk of injury was added to his charges. He was held on a $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Norwalk Superior Court on April 17.
  31. DICKINSON, ND, 3/08/17: A 26-year-old Killdeer man accidentally discharged his personal firearm, shooting himself in the left leg in the Perkins parking lot on Wednesday morning. He was transported to the emergency room at CHI St. Alexius hospital in Dickinson, however Wilkie said his injuries do not appear to be life threatening. No one else was injured. The case has been forwarded to the state's attorney's office.
  32. KANNAPOLIS, NC, 3/08/17: A person in Rowan County was reportedly shot while being shown a gun at a business Wednesday afternoon. According to the sheriff's office, the incident happened along the 8800-block of Dogwood Drive in Kannapolis just before 4 PM. This is the address for Joel’s Garage and Used Parts. That's when investigators say the handgun accidentally went off and the person was hit by a bullet in the abdomen. The victim was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries.
  33. ORLANDO, FL, 3/08/17: One of three teenagers suspected in an armed robbery early Wednesday at an Orange County apartment complex apparently shot himself during his getaway, deputies said. The Orange County Sheriff's Office said an 18-year-old man reported at 12:48 AM that he had been shot in a drive-by at the Royal Palms West Apartments in Orlando. Deputies said they found two robbery victims at the complex, and their descriptions of the assailants matched the man who claimed that he had been shot. Items belonging to the robbery victims were found on the man who was shot and on two others, deputies said. "At this time, it appears that the injured suspect shot himself while leaving the scene of the robbery with his accomplices," the Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The man who shot himself was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The trio will be arrested on armed robbery charges. None of the robbery victims were injured.
  34. MACON, GA, 3/08/17: On March 8, a 41-year-old man on Frederica Place in southwest Macon told the cops that “he was taking his .380 handgun out of his left back pocket (when) his gun accidentally discharged. … The .380 round went through-and-through on the left side of his buttocks.”
  35. HEMPSTEAD, NY, 3/08/17: Police say a man accidentally shot himself in the leg in Hempstead. According to police, Michael Williams, 57, of Farmingdale, shot himself in the leg Wednesday night on Franklin Street. Police say Williams dropped the gun in the street and was arrested while being treated at the hospital. A second man, Steven Jackson, 65, allegedly found the gun, picked it up, and took off before being arrested around 10 PM, police say. Both men are facing criminal weapons charges.
  36. GALESBURG, IL, 3/08/17: A juvenile boy made a court appearance Friday on charges that he fired a gun in his own home. Galesburg police Lt. James Bradford said the 15-year-old male of Blaine Avenue made that appearance in juvenile court on four counts of possession of ammunition without a FOID card, possession of a firearm without a FOID card and reckless discharge of a firearm. The boy turned himself in to police Thursday. According to a Galesburg police report, authorities responded to a home in the 200 block of Blaine Avenue for a gunshot at 6:20 PM Wednesday. The mother of the boy said she heard a loud bang from his upstairs bedroom "and white powder started coming from the ceiling" and plaster dust covered her as the bullet went through the south wall of the home, the report said. She then saw a hole in the ceiling. The 15-year-old then came downstairs with four other juveniles, and he and three of them ran from the house at that point. A male witness to the incident said he didn't know three of the boys, but believed they were between the ages of 16 and 17 and from the Quad Cities area. That witness further believed one of those juveniles brought the .45-caliber handgun to the home without a magazine. The witness further told police he believed the juvenile didn't realize there was a round in the chamber when handling the gun. Bradford said the boy had been held in the Mary Davis Home prior to Friday's hearing and it was not known if he was still there as late Friday afternoon.
  37. TWIN FALLS, ID, 3/09/17: A woman apparently shot herself in the leg accidentally Thursday afternoon. Twin Falls Police said paramedics took the woman to the hospital and the severity of her injuries are unknown. Police received a call at about 1:15 PM of a woman who accidentally shot herself in a home on the 1000 block of Hoops Street.
  38. CHICO, CA, 3/09/17: Chico police said a man accidentally shot his friend while showing his pistol to a group of people Thursday morning. It happened around 2 AM at an apartment in the 600 block of Pomona Avenue. Police said Daniel Slack, 27, accidentally fired the weapon. They said the design of the pistol required a pull of the trigger in order to disassemble it. Police said Slack didn't confirm the pistol was empty and didn't point the firearm in a safe direction before squeezing the trigger. Officials said a bullet hit one of Slack's friends, who was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries. The Chico Police Department is completing a criminal investigation which will be forwarded to the Butte County District Attorney's Office. The police department took this opportunity to remind people to always follow the basic rules of firearm safety.
  39. FRESNO, CA, 3/09/17: Fresno police reported Friday that a 17-year-old boy killed in a shooting Thursday in southeast Fresno died of a self-inflicted wound. The identity of the boy has not been released by police. The shooting occurred about noon in the 3800 block of East Iowa Street, where arriving officers found the victim in the back room of a home. Two other boys were on the property and one of the boys told arriving officers that he was in front of the home when he heard a gunshot, ran to the room and found his wounded friend. He also said that he saw a male climbing a back fence to escape the shooting scene. However, Lt. David Madrigal said Friday that homicide detectives determined that the victim and the two 16-year-olds were in the home in possession of a handgun when the boy was mortally wounded.
  40. NEW ORLEANS, LA, 3/09/17: A 24-year-old man was arrested Thursday (March 9) after a witness said he accidentally fired a gun through the wall of a 7th Ward double, striking a woman who lived in the unit next door. New Orleans police said Kenneth Lewis was booked on one count of negligent injuring and illegal use of a weapon related to the shooting of his neighbor. Police said the wounded woman was shot in the face. Deondra Anderson, 37, who was at the scene as police investigated, said the victim was struck after someone misfired a gun through a wall in her mother's home. She said the gunfire entered the other side of the double, injuring her mother's tenant who lived next door. Anderson said she was in the house, visiting her mother, when the shooting occurred. Police stretched yellow crime tape around the front of a blue double on the corner of North Miro and Laharpe Streets. The front door of one side of the double was open as police worked, and a group of people gathered near the front stoop of the other side of the double. Anderson was later seen talking to the group of people inside of the area roped off by crime tape. Anderson described the shooting as "a freak accident." NOPD said Thursday afternoon no other information about the shooting was available.
  41. PRESCOTT, AR, 3/09/17: Two teenagers are accused of stealing handguns from vehicles then bringing the firearms to school, where one accidentally was fired. There's no report on anyone being wounded when the gun went off. Authorities say it happened March 9 in Prescott, Ark. "It is believed at this time that these individuals had no additional intent to use the firearms while on school property," Police Chief Joseph Beavers said. Someone reported hearing a gunshot from a male bathroom in the high school building, the police chief said. Then two males, ages 16 and 17, were seen leaving the bathroom and the campus. Police found the two teenagers and two small-caliber handguns at an apartment complex nearby. Investigators think the teenagers were showing off the guns in the bathroom when one accidentally fired, Beavers said. The spent bullet was recovered from the bathroom. The teenagers, whose names have not been released because of their age, now face one count each of aggravated assault and possessing a weapon on school property. Each also has been charged with one count each of breaking and entering and theft of property in connection with a series of vehicle burglaries where the guns had been reported as stolen.
  42. WARNER ROBINS, GA, 3/09/17: Two people are charged in a fatal shooting early Thursday morning that police say resulted from playing with a gun. Officers were called to a home at 506 S. 3rd St. about 12:48 AM regarding a shooting, said Warner Robins police spokeswoman Jennifer Parson. Edward McKellar, 43, suffered a gunshot to the head and was pronounced dead. Jemarcus Dwayne Duncan, 22, was arrested Thursday and charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct. Reginald Haulcombe Taylor, 34, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and tampering with evidence. According to a release, the investigation revealed the three men were playing with a gun that they thought was not loaded. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor. A section of 3rd Street in front of the home was completely blocked off Thursday morning as evidence was gathered at the scene. The shooting is the city’s third homicide in a week. Two men were killed March 2 in a shooting at Jus One More nightclub. No one has been arrested although hundreds of people were in the building at the time of the shooting.
  43. WINSTON-SALEM, NC, 3/09/17: On March 9th, 2017, Officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department responded to 2929 East Sprague Street on a reported shooting. Officers located Anthony Earl Johnson at the residence with a gunshot wound to his leg. Johnson told officers that he was in his residence when four black males entered armed with handguns attempting to rob him. Johnson advised he struggled with one of the males for control of a handgun and was shot. Johnson said he fled the residence leaving the four males inside. Winston-Salem Police Department Criminal Investigation Division, Patrol, Special Operations Division and Special Weapons and Tactics personnel responded to the scene establishing a protective perimeter around the residence. Police efforts included blocking/closing surrounding streets for approximately 30 minutes while officers searched for the armed males. The males were not located. Anthony Johnson was transported to North Carolina Baptist Medical Center where he was treated and later released for a non-life threatening injury. Investigators of this incident established that Anthony Earl Johnson fabricated the report of being shot during an attempted armed robbery to attempt to conceal that he had shot himself accidentally while alone at his residence. Anthony Johnson was arrested on March 27th.
  44. NORTH POLE, AK, 3/09/17: A North Pole man faces felony charges after he reportedly fired multiple shots inside his home and falsely claimed he and his girlfriend were being held hostage. Brian Thaddeus Pitts, 44, surrendered to a tactical team about 15 hours after he initially contacted Alaska State Troopers. He is charged with third-degree assault and second- and third-degree weapons misconduct. According to charging documents and a trooper news release, Pitts called 911 at 3:43 AM Thursday and said people were inside his house. Pitts said he and his girlfriend had locked themselves in a bathroom and he had fired a gun in self-defense. Troopers responded to the home and determined Pitts’ report of a home invasion was false. Pitts was distraught and there were bullet holes in the walls that appeared to have been caused by gunshots fired from inside the home, troopers said. Pitts called troopers again at 6:35 AM and asked them to enter his home because he and his girlfriend were being held hostage. Troopers responded but backed away from the scene at  about 11:30 AM after efforts to contact Pitts were unsuccessful. Crisis negotiators were able to talk to Pitts and friends of his who spoke with him throughout the day. One told them Pitts’ girlfriend sounded afraid and Pitts could be heard coaching her responses, troopers said. A tactical team established a perimeter around Pitts’ house and were able to drive an armored vehicle up to his house and communicate with him safely. Pitts exited his home and surrendered at about 6:30 PM. Pitts told troopers his girlfriend came over the night before and they watched TV until she went to bed. Pitts said he stayed on the couch and was almost asleep when he got “fired on,” according to troopers. Pitts said bullets were flying all over the place and he couldn’t see where they were coming from. He said he returned fire with a 9mm handgun that belonged to someone else who lived in the house before running to a back bedroom. Pitts said his place was shot to pieces and there were a lot of spent shells on the floor but he didn’t think they all came from him, according to troopers. Pitts’ girlfriend told troopers she went to bed after an uneventful evening and awoke to the sound of gunfire. Pitts was pacing around the living room with a handgun, acted paranoid and said there was somebody inside the house. This went on for three or four hours until the woman got scared and locked herself in the bathroom. The woman let Pitts inside the bathroom after several hours but he was still jumpy and would not answer her questions. Pitts was waving the gun around near her head and it accidentally went off when he put it down at one point. Pitts eventually left the bathroom and she locked him out again because she was afraid he was going to shoot her, according to the woman’s statement. The woman attributed Pitts’ actions to a mental health issue and told troopers she and Pitts did not use drugs during the incident. Troopers searched the home and found a 9mm pistol and 26 spent shell casings scattered throughout the house. They found an equal number of holes in the walls, appliances, furniture and floors, all shot from inside the home. The couch had multiple bullet holes with burn marks around them, indicating the gun muzzle was extremely close when the shots were fired. Troopers found no evidence of a home invasion or return fire. The incident occurred in a neighborhood between Newby Road and Nelson Road in North Pole.
  45. WHITE CENTER, WA, 3/10/17: A 17-year-old boy has been booked into King County youth detention for manslaughter after police say he killed a close friend in an accidental shooting south of Seattle. Donovan Spann was killed when a gun discharged Friday evening at a home in the White Center area. Highline High School principal Vicki Fisher told the Seattle Times that 18-year-old Spann was on track to graduate in June from New Starts alternative high school. According to the King County Sheriff’s office, the suspect invited Spann over to a home and the two were reportedly playing Russian roulette when the suspect fired and hit Spann in the stomach. Medics were unable to revive him. Spann’s older sister, Neenah West, said the family doubts that the young men were playing Russian roulette but also said the suspect would not intentionally hurt her brother. A memorial service is set for 1 PM Saturday at Highline High School.
  46. LINCOLN, NE, 3/10/17: A man was cited Friday night after he accidentally fired his handgun, according to Lincoln Police. Officers responded to the 4200 block of North 60th Street around 9:50 PM. The 28-year-old man was taking his handgun apart at home and didn't realize it was loaded. The weapon discharged, but no one was injured. Police issued the man a citation for discharging a weapon in the city.
  47. BALTIMORE, MD, 3/10/17: Baltimore police say an accidental shooting left a four-year-old boy injured. Police received a call Friday evening for a four-year-old walk-in shooting victim at an area hospital in northeast Baltimore around 6:20 PM. Authorities said two boys, four and six, were in a home on Falkirk Road near Rambelwood Road at the time of the shooting. The six-year-old pulled the trigger and shot his little brother in the upper body. The child is in stable condition and is expected to survive, police said. It’s not clear exactly where the father was at the time of the shooting, but police do say he was inside of the home. Citywide Shooting Detectives are currently investigating. Police did not say if the gun used was legally owned, or if the father will be facing any charges.
  48. OLIVE BRANCH, MS, 3/10/17: A 17-year-old is stable at Regional One in Memphis after her 16-year-old friend accidentally shot her in Olive Branch, according to neighbors. Olive Branch police were called to the home on the 6300 block of Shenandoah Lane at about 10:00 AM Friday morning. There was a group of teens at the home when the shooting happened, according to neighbors. Friday was the last day of school in DeSoto County before Spring Break begins Monday. Police said in a statement that the 16-year-old who fired the weapon was taken into custody. Police have not said whether the teen will be charged with a crime. Several people were in and out of the home Friday. Family and friends would not speak on camera and the homeowner said he could not comment on the shooting. Neighbors said the 16-year-old was either cleaning the gun or playing with it when he discharged unexpectedly. The 17-year-old was shot above the neck, according to neighbors. Police have not released information about her condition. Multiple neighbors told FOX13 the teenager is expected to recover.
  49. SWOYERSVILLE, PA, 3/10/17: A family feud sends a man is to the hospital Friday, after he got shot by his brother. Police are investigating what they call an accidental shooting that happened on Denison street in Swoyersville around midnight. Police tell Eyewitness News two brothers got into an argument - and one man picked up a shotgun, to "Intimidate" his brother. They say he didn't think it was loaded and pulled the trigger. His brother, was recovering in the hospital Friday morning. The suspect is in custody.
  50. PITTSBURGH, PA, 3/10/17: A Pittsburgh police detective who was accidentally shot in the foot by his partner Friday afternoon in Hazelwood was treated and released from a hospital. The incident occurred about 2 PM in the 200 block of Tipton Street, according to police. The detectives were conducting a drug investigation when one of them was attacked by a dog. The other detective fired his gun and struck the dog, but he also hit his partner in the foot, police said. The injured detective was taken to UPMC Presbyterian for treatment. He was released a short time later, police said. The dog ran from the area after the shooting, but was eventually found and taken to a veterinarian for care. The circumstances of the shooting are under investigation.
  51. LITTLE ROCK, AR, 3/10/17: Two teenagers were injured in an accidental shooting late Friday in Little Rock, a police spokesman said. The victims, a 16-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy, were found in the living room of a residence on Santa Fe Trail after police were called to the shooting around 11:50 PM, according to a Little Rock Police Department report. Officials said the boy appeared to have a wound in his right arm, while the girl was shot in her right shoulder. Both were taken to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock for treatment, police said. An initial police report said the two teenagers were outside the residence when they were shot by an unknown assailant. But department spokesman officer Steve Moore said a man who was on the scene when police arrived later told police that both teens were accidentally shot when he moved a gun that was lying on a bed. The man told police that one shot was fired during the accident, hitting both teenagers, Moore said. Moore said the man is considered a "family friend" of the children. Moore said investigators consider the shooting accidental. He said charges on the man are pending further review from the Pulaski County prosecuting attorney's office.
  52. OLDSMAR, FL, 3/10/17: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to an accidental shooting inside a movie theater in Pinellas County. It happened at the AMC Woodlands Square 20 in Oldsmar, just after 2 PM on Friday. Deputies say a patron, Nathan A. Schrage, 26 was in the bathroom when his gun discharged. Schrage had placed his firearm on a toilet paper dispenser and when he tried to put his gun back in the holster, it discharged and he was shot in the left hand. He carries a valid concealed permit, according to deputies. Fortunately, nobody was in the bathroom when his gun discharged. Some patrons at the movie theater said they aren’t concerned with guns inside theaters. “I just came in, enjoyed the movie, and I did enjoy the movie,” said Mike Nicolazzo. “I do pay attention for the exits, but not for anything other than someone maybe yelling fire, or a fight or something like that,” said Darrell Harris. Retired police detective Steven Gardner is concerned about violence in public places like movie theaters. “I do find myself looking around, where’s the exit, who’s sitting next to me?” he said. “You should be able to go to the movies, or go to the mall, or do anything in this society without fear of being shot.”
  53. ST. PETERSBURG, FL, 3/11/17: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Deputies said Sunday Tampa Firefighter Logan McClain, 29, accidentally shot his fiance while getting his hand gun out of the car’s center console. Investigators said the 28-year-old victim was shot in the right thigh. She was taken to the hospital with injuries that were described as non-life threatening. Deputies said the shooting happened at approximately 10:42 PM, Saturday night at the intersection of Pasadena Avenue South and Park Street in Pasadena. Deputies were called to the intersection because of a suspicious incident. They said someone saw the victim being put in the back seat of a 2012 Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck by McClain. St. Petersburg Police stopped the truck on its way to the hospital and found both McClain and the victim in the back. Investigators said McClain is a firefighter and paramedic for the City of Tampa. Investigators said McClain and the victim were near their home when he got the gun out and it accidentally went off, while she was driving. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said McClain has a valid concealed carry permit and foul play does not appear to be a factor in the case. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
  54. WICHITA, KS, 3/11/17: Wichita police are investigating a shooting they say might have been accidental. Emergency dispatchers sent police to a reported shooting at 1:15 AM on Saturday, said Officer Paul Cruz. Officers arriving in the 300 block of West 21st Street North found a man, 27, with a gunshot wound in his left hip. He was taken to a hospital in serious condition, Cruz said. Police are not looking for any suspects, Cruz said. Officers said information received indicated the wound might have been self-inflicted.
  55. OWOSSO, MI, 3/11/17: A 20-year-old Owosso Township man was taken to a Lansing hospital Saturday night with non-life threatening injuries after he was shot by his friend in the 2400 block of Krouse Road in Owosso Township. According to Michigan State Police Lt. Dave Kaiser, police responded to a residence in the 2400 block of Krouse Road in Owosso Township after a man reported he had accidentally shot his friend.
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