Gun Fail 60

Wed Mar 12, 2014 at 02:39 PM PDT

Welcome to Hooters! Is that a gun in your pants, or ... GunFAIL LX (Click on this heading to view the original post, comments, etc.)

by David Waldman

attribution: The TSA Blog

Eight of 29 guns discovered in carry on bags by TSA agents at airports around the country last week.

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An extraordinarily tough week for the kids this time around, with 13 accidentally shot, and a number of very young ones among the victims. Nine of the 13 were under age 10, and five of them were pre-schoolers. One of the victims was identified only as a child, so we can only guess how old he or she was. It could've been worse, of course. One of our "home invasion" shootings involved a stray bullet sent through the window of a home daycare. A total of six lucky Americans were gifted a freedom projectile by neighbors or other area patriots last week.

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The other big total, surprising no one, was the number people who accidentally shot themselves: 23 of them. 

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Among those failing to live up to the expectations we have for safe gun practices from those who carry in public there were: 1) a man who left his weapon within reach of his young son while trying on a new holster at a Bass Pro Shop in Oklahoma City (both were shot for their trouble); 2) a woman who left her loaded weapon in the bathroom of a Red Robin restaurant in Milford, CT; 3) an anatomy student (or just a Buffalo Wing fan) who accidentally shot himself in the parking lot of Hooters in San Antonio; 4) a gentleman who accidentally fired his weapon inside a Cherry Hill, NJ office building, and; 5) someone who left a loaded gun hidden in a sock among the clothes donated to a Chicago thrift shop, which was accidentally fired by a worker who shook it loose, killing a coworker.
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It was an otherwise "normal" week, though, with our regular assortment of gun cleaning accidents, dropped guns, accidental family shootings, etc. I'll just let the list, found below the fold, speak for itself.
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1. PERRIS, CA, 2/15/14: On Feb. 15, a stray bullet believed to have originated from BLM land struck a house in a neighborhood near the range. Sgt. Stephen Brosche, of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, said the .30-06 round lodged in a wall of a house on Loch Rae Court about 8:45 a.m. The resident was home at the time, but no one was hurt. He said deputies were unable to locate the shooter.
2. LAKEWOOD, OH, 2/25/14: A Lakewood man accused of letting an assault rifle discharge into a neighbor's house was arraigned in Lakewood Municipal Court Tuesday morning. Robert Ledinsky faces charges of improperly securing a firearm and allowing a firearm to discharge within the city limits. The morning of Feb. 25, an Armin Avenue woman found what appeared to be a bullet hole in her closet, according to a police report. She told police she looked on the outside of her house and found what appeared to be more bullet holes, the report said. Officers questioned her neighbors, and found Ledinsky's AK-47 had accidentally discharged days earlier and left the bullet holes, according to the report. Ledinsky was cited and the rifle was confiscated, the report said.
3. MENOMONIE, WI, 2/25/14: A 23-year-old Menomonie man shot himself in the hand on Feb. 25 after testing out his new 9mm handgun. The man had finished shooting and was trying to lock part of the gun when his hand slipped off the slide and the gun went off. He wasn’t sure how the gun fired, but the bullet went through a fleshy part of the palm and did not hit any bones.
4. FRUIT HEIGHTS, UT, 2/27/14: The Davis County sheriff is warning parents of the importance of talking to their children about gun safety after some elementary-age children discovered a loaded gun in a field and it went off. The boys were playing in the area of 400 South, west of U.S. 89, on Feb. 27 when they discovered the handgun. “This is one of those rare occasions that the kids found it before we did,” Sheriff Todd Richardson said. Investigators said one of the children pointed the gun at a fence and pulled the trigger. The gun didn’t immediately fire, but it went off when the boy lowered the gun to his side. Nobody was injured, deputies said, and the event resulted in the kids running home to tell their parents. It remained unclear who left behind the weapon.
5. WEST PENSACOLA, FL, 3/01/14: An Escambia County family is mourning the loss of a toddler tonight after an accidental shooting. It happened around 10:30 this morning at a home on Fairfield drive near Eliasberg street. Deputies say a 2-year-old child was accidentally shot. Few details are being released right now. We don't know if the child was a boy or a girl or who actually fired the gun. UPDATE: Investigators say the boy accidentally shot himself in the head after getting hold of a handgun Saturday morning at a home on South Fairfield Drive. So far there is no word of any arrests being made.
6. DALLAS, TX, 3/01/14: Police say a 9-year-old Dallas girl is in critical condition after she was struck by a stray bullet around 11:30 a.m. Saturday in her home on the 400 block of W. Yarmouth St. The bullet appeared to have come from a target-practicing neighbor in the yard next-door, authorities said. The shot, from a handgun, apparently went through the kitchen window of the home the girl lives in, striking her. Police reports from the incident suggest the girl was struck in the head. The girl, who has yet to be named, was transported to Children’s Medical Center, and is in critical condition at this time. Police have identified Cristian Manzano, 20, as the suspect in the shooting. Formal charges against Manzano have yet to be announced. Police reports show that Manzano was arrested for assault injury to a child and discharge of a weapon. Manzano was booked into the Dallas County Jail at 5:13 p.m. Saturday. UPDATE: Twice last year, the 20-year-old man who police say accidentally shot a 9-year-old girl in the head on Saturday was caught unlawfully carrying a handgun, according to police records. Cristian Manzano had been on probation for less than a month when authorities say he fired a 9mm handgun at a fence while doing target practice. A bullet fired from Manzano’s gun hit a glass window and struck Jasmine Contreras in the forehead, police records state.
7. AUSTIN, TX, 3/01/14: A man killed at Club Zota, in Southeast Austin, earlier this month was apparently shot by his former brother-in-law in what appeared to be an accidental shooting. According to an arrest warrant, Arturo Torres, 28, was playing billiards with Edgar Macedo, 26, and another friend when Torres accidentally bumped into a random guy which started an argument. When Macedo went to use the restroom, Arturo noticed that he was being followed by the same guys that started the argument. When Torres got to the restroom, Macedo and the other two men were fighting. In an attempt to break up the fight, Torres pulled out a handgun. One of the other men tried to wrestle it away from him causing the gun to fire one round, striking Macedo.
8. CINCINNATI, OH, 3/01/14: Authorities say an 8-year-old Cincinnati boy playing with a gun that he and his two brothers thought was a BB gun has been shot in the chest and killed. Cincinnati Police Lt. Don Luck tells the Cincinnati Enquirer that the three boys were visiting an uncle when one pulled the trigger of a handgun that they thought was a BB gun and hit Sammy Lorenzo in the chest Saturday afternoon. The boy was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital and rushed into surgery, but later died. Luck says that no charges are expected against the children and that it's too early to tell whether charges will be filed against any adults.
9. MEDFORD, OR, 3/01/14: A five year-old Medford boy was shot earlier Saturday morning in what police are calling an accidental shooting. According to the press release medical and fire crews responded around 8:30am Saturday to the home on West Jackson Street in Medford. The boy sustained a gun-shot wound to the lower abdomen according to the press release. Police detectives were called to the scene. During the course of the investigation detectives learned, according to the press release, that the boy found his fathers pistol. The boy's eight year-old sister attempted to take the gun from the boy when it discharged striking the boy. As of 1:30pm Saturday the boy is in stable condition. The boy's father was revealed to be a convicted felon and not allowed to own a firearm. He has been taken into custody on these charges: assault 3rd degree, recklessly endangering another and felon in possession of a firearm.
10. STONEY CREEK, TN, 3/01/14: A 13-year-old Carter County boy was described as being in stable condition after suffering a gunshot wound to his neck this weekend. On Saturday afternoon, Carter County sheriff’s deputies responded to 123 Herman Peters Road in the Stoney Creek community after receiving a call that a boy had been shot while he was playing with his older brother. According to Sheriff Chris Mathes, who was at the scene, the boy was shot after he and his brother came across a pistol. The boys, Mathes said, thought the gun was unloaded and began to play with it. “Thirteen- and 14-year-old juvenile brothers had apparently gotten a handgun that was buried in a closet ... and were looking at it,” Mathes said. “The 13-year-old boy was shot in the neck.” Mathes said his investigators believe the boy’s older brother was holding the gun when it went off, sending a bullet into the 13-year-old. In addition to the neck wound, Mathes said, the boy also suffered a secondary wound after the bullet exited his body. “From what I understand, it was in the neck and it came out of his shoulder,” Mathes said.
11. ROCK FALLS, IL, 3/01/14: A teenage boy is dead after what investigators say was an accidental shooting at the home of an Illinois State Police trooper, the ISP confirmed at 9 tonight. According to a verbal statement provided by Lt. Victor Markowski, interim commander for Zone 2 investigations: "Illinois State Police officials are confirming that an accidental shooting occurred in District 1 at the residence of an ISP trooper at approximately 11:40 a.m. today (Saturday)." Based on preliminary investigative details, the accidental shooting incident involved two male teenagers. One of the male teenagers unrelated to the trooper's family suffered a fatal gunshot wound. "The matter remains under investigation and no further information is available at this time." Markowski declined to provide any further details, including the age of the boys, where the boy was shot or the town in which the shooting occurred. He did say that despite the apparent involvement of an ISP officer, "we are treating this matter as we would any investigation." UPDATE: According to a report by Sauk Valley.com, 15-year-old Matthew Madsen Anderson, a Rock Falls High School freshman, was killed Saturday, March 1, 2014. Illinois State Police Lieutenant Victor Markowski said the accidental shooting occurred around 11:40 a.m. Saturday at the home of an Illinois State trooper. The incident involved two teenage boys, and the victim, who was unrelated to the trooper’s family, suffered a fatal gunshot wound.
12. HUNTSVILLE, AL, 3/01/14: An 18-year-old Huntsville man who admitted he was intoxicated early Saturday said he was playing around with a loaded handgun when he accidentally shot himself in the foot, police said. When Huntsville Police were called to the scene inside a residence on Bayreuth Drive, the victim's family members confirmed the shooting was self-inflicted and accidental. Police said the man's foot injury was not life-threatening. No arrests in this case have been reported. Huntsville Police did not say whether the victim was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
13. DECATUR, AL, 3/01/14: One person was killed after an accidental shooting in Decatur, according to police. Emergency crews responded around 12:30 a.m. Saturday to the 1500 block of Seton Avenue SE. Authorities said 21-year-old Colt Iverson suffered from an apparent gunshot wound and was transported to Decatur Morgan Hospital where he was pronounced dead. During an investigation, officers determined that Iverson accidentally shot himself. Authorities said the body will be transported to the Alabama Department of Forensics for an autopsy. Police said no foul play is suspected but the investigation is ongoing.
14. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 3/01/14: A 5-year-old boy accidentally shot his father inside Bass Pro Shops while the man tried on a new holster, police said. Darren Wayne Lannou, of Canyon, Texas, who has a concealed carry permit from that state, was in the Bricktown sporting goods store Saturday night with his firearm in a holster, according to a police incident report. He took off his holstered gun in a dressing room and placed it on a bench where his son was playing with an iPhone, according to the incident report. While trying on the new holster, Lannou tried to retrieve his gun but saw that his son had it. The weapon discharged, causing a graze wound to the boy’s thumb, a through-and-through wound to his father’s right leg and a graze wound to the father’s left leg. Lannou said he grabbed the gun, threw it down, opened the dressing room door and yelled for someone to call 911, according to the report. Workers at the store unloaded the gun before officers arrived. Lannou and his son were taken to OU Medical Center with injuries that were not life threatening. The reporting officer said Lannou continually told police he made a mistake, was very remorseful and was very upset and concerned for his son.
15. WEST LIBERTY, KY, 3/01/14: On March 1, 2014 at 3:45 p.m. Kentucky State Police Morehead received a call for service from West Liberty police department, in reference to an accidental shooting on KY 589 in Morgan County. Trooper Luke Goodwin, Trooper Brandon Burton, Morgan County EMS, and 172 Fire Department responded to the scene. John Dougherty, 31, of West Liberty was operating an ATV on private property, when a shotgun that was on his ATV fell off, causing the firearm to accidentally discharge striking him in the hand. Mr. Dougherty was treated at the scene by EMS, and airlifted to the University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky by PHI Air Medical. Mr. Dougherty is currently listed in stable condition. This incident remains under investigation by Trooper Luke Goodwin.
16. LOUISVILLE, KY, 3/01/14: A convicted felon has been arrested after shooting a man while showing off a handgun that he shouldn't have had. John B. Brown II, 40, was arrested March 1 after the shooting in the 1200 block of Keswick Blvd. An arrest report says Brown shot a man in the foot while showing off one of the two handguns in his car. Police found a loaded .38 caliber gun under the passenger seat and a loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic in the center armrest. The shooting was ruled accidental, but Brown was charged  with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.
17. MILFORD, CT, 3/01/14: A woman was accused of leaving a loaded firearm inside the bathroom of a restaurant in Milford. Police said they received a complaint Saturday from the Red Robin on the Boston Post Road. Linda Hawkins, 56, of Bridgeport, was arrested. They said she took the gun into the restroom, where it was discovered by an employee. Investigators took the weapon and later made contact with Hawkins. They said the gun is registered. Hawkins was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment.
18. BUTLER, PA, 3/01/14: Authorities are investigating after a 3-year-old boy was injured in an accidental shooting over the weekend inside a Butler home. According to police, the incident was reported Saturday around 8:15 p.m. at a home on McKinley Avenue. Investigators told Channel 11’s Amy Marcinkiewicz that the boy suffered powder burns on the face when he accidentally fired the gun. Marcinkiewicz reported the gun was found in the armrest of a recliner. Investigators told her the child’s grandfather is a retired police officer, a veteran with more than 30 years on the force. He was not home when the shooting took place, Marcinkiewicz said. The boy was treated at an area hospital and released, officials said. At this time, no charges have been filed.
19. STERLING, VA, 3/01/14: Police are working to find out who shot into a Sterling home, narrowly missing the homeowner's dog. The shooting was reported around 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Loudoun County. Felicia Niesciur was standing in her dining room chatting with two friends seated at the table when the drywall suddenly went flying. "All of a sudden, I saw this poof of white stuff out of the wall and I looked at my friends and said, 'Did you see that?'" Niesciur called police but while she waiting for them to arrive, she began running the vacuum, tidying up a bit. That's when she discovered the bullet slug as it clattered into the vacuum. She retrieved it and presented it to the officer. "It wasn't like a brand new bullet," Niesciur said. "It was broken up a little bit and I gave it to him and he said, 'Yes that's lead." The sheriff's office canvassed the area but was unable to determine the source of the bullet. Niesciur said the bullet just passed her dog's water dish, narrowly missing his head. There are woods nearby where it's not uncommon to hear hunters. Niesciur suspects someone might have been playing with a gun or target shooting. She hopes whomever fired the shot will step forward, take responsibility and ease her mind. "It's very scary," Niesciur said. "I don't think it was on purpose. I think it was an accident but it would be nice if someone would acknowledge that they made a mistake."
20. NEW ORLEANS, LA, 3/02/14: Many have said that they have shot themselves in the foot after a night on Bourbon Street, and 21-year-old Deanta Belvin did just that. Early this morning, Belvin accidentally shot himself in the 700 block of Bourbon Street, according to NOPD. A security guard approached Belvin, who had a firearm. The pair struggled as the security guard tried to detain Belvin, and Belvin reached for his gun. The weapon discharged, and Belvin accidentally shot himself in the foot. The round punctured Belvin's foot and went into the floor. No one else was injured, and he was taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries.
21. SEMINOLE, FL, 3/02/14: Pinellas County authorities are investigating what is being a called an accidental shooting of a 14-year-old Sunday in Seminole. About 4:20 p.m., the two boys arrived at the home at a home, 9501 134th Way North, after baseball practice. The two went into a room where the older teen was showing the younger teen a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. While showing the rifle, it fired, shooting the 14-year-old in the stomach, according to deputies. The victim was taken by helicopter to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. There were no adults inside the home at the time of the shooting, deputies said. No charges will be filed against the 16-year-old.
22. WEST DES MOINES, IA, 3/02/14: A 29-year-old Iowa man is recovering after accidentally shooting his own finger during target practice. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating the incident that happened Sunday afternoon at Badger Creek State Recreation Area in Madison County. Authorities say Zach Sainz inadvertently let one of his fingers get in front of the 9mm handgun he was firing. Sainz was taken to a Des Moines hospital for treatment of a non-life threatening injury.
23. MARTIN CITY, MT, 3/02/14: A Martin City man accidentally shot and killed himself Sunday. The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Edward Schramm, 37. “He was examining a rifle and it accidentally discharged and shot him in the face,” said Dick Sine, a detective and the on-duty coroner who responded to the incident at a Central Avenue home. A friend witnessed and reported the shooting at about 11:15 a.m. It involved a .223-caliber AR-15-type rifle. Sine said there is no suspicion of foul play.
24. WARREN, IN, 3/02/14: A Warren man accidentally shot himself while unloading his gun Sunday evening, according to police. At around 9:54 p.m. Sunday, the Fort Wayne Police Department responded to a call at the Lutheran Hospital emergency room, where a man with a gunshot wound to his left hand had come for treatment, according to a report. The 25-year-old man was at home with his mother in Warren when the incident occurred, according to the report. His mother had asked him to unload his .350 Llama handgun; she didn't want a loaded gun in the house. While alone in his bedroom and attempting to unload the gun, he accidentally fired it; the bullet struck his left hand and exited. The man said it is his only gun and he hadn't had any formal training in handling it, according to the report. His mother, who had been in the front room of the home when the incident occurred, drove him to the hospital.
25. TRENTON, NJ, 3/02/14: A 16-year-old was arrested yesterday afternoon after he accidentally shot his 18-year-old friend in the neck with a small-caliber handgun, police said. The victim was in stable condition today and is expected to survive his injuries, Lt. Steve Varn said. Officers were called to the 200 block of Spring Street shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, but the victim was already at the hospital. Their investigation led them to a home on the 200 block of Fairway Drive nearby, where the actual shooting took place, Varn said. “It appears that the victim was shot by mistake,” Varn said. Police found out the 18-year-old victim had been taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center by car, where he was treated for the gunshot wound to the neck. Their investigation determined he was shot by the 16-year-old, who was arrested. Police seized a small Derringer handgun from inside the home on Fairway Drive.
26. TWENTY-NINE PALMS, CA, 3/02/14: A Marine from the Tri-State was shot to death in California last weekend. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said Cpl. Steven Kohus, 26, was found dead in Twentynine Palms on Sunday night. The suspect, Brock Myers, 22, was arrested at the scene, deputies said. Kohus is a 2006 graduate of Little Miami High School. He joined the Marines in 2010. According to news reports, Kohus was a motor transport mechanic attached to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. Myers serves in the same battalion. Myers pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a murder charge and is being held without bond. He is due back in court on March 13. At least two people who knew Kohus said it was their understanding that the shooting was accidental, not deliberate.
27. TABOR CITY, NC, 3/03/14: A gunshot wound to the left hand had Tabor City Police Department officers searching for a shooter on Reese and Queen streets and on to Carolina Road this afternoon, before the victim admitted to accidentally shooting himself in the hand, Chief Donald Dowless said. William Antwan Gaskins, 21, was taken by Tabor City Emergency Services ambulance to McLeod Loris hospital from his home in the 100 block of Reese Street with an injury that did not appear to be life threatening, Dowless said. Gaskins initially told police he was shot on a trail through a wooded area that connects Queen Street and Carolina Road, Dowless said. Officers were unable to find any evidence of a shooting there, though the wound to Gaskins' hand was bleeding profusely, Dowless said. Gaskins admitted to accidentally shooting himself while handling a gun in his home as Maj. Jerry Sarvis prepared to conduct a gunshot residue test on his hands, Dowless said.
28. AMADO, AZ, 3/03/14: A 3-year-old boy is in the hospital having emergency surgery Monday after being shot in a home near Amado, Pima County Sheriffs deputies said. Deputies responded to the home in the 26900 block of S. Monarch Way Monday afternoon. Detectives with the Crimes Against Children and Homicide units are on scene, Pima County Sheriff's deputy Tracy Suitt said. A search warrant is being served at the home, sources said. Suitt says a call to 911 was made about an accidental shooting in the area. UPDATE: A 3-year-old boy is recovering after accidentally shooting himself in the lower torso on Monday afternoon. Pima County Sheriff's Deputies are continuing to investigate how the toddler got his hands on a loaded weapon in his own home.
29. TUCSON, AZ, 3/03/14: A Tucson Police officer's gun is missing following a foot chase Monday. It happened around noon after the officer chased a purse snatching suspect in the area of 500 block of North Shawnee Avenue, near Silverbell and St. Mary's. The officer had chased the suspect for more than 1/8th of a mile before catching him. The officer didn't notice his gun was gone until the chase was over. The gun pictured is similar to the weapon that's missing. It's a Glock 22 Gen4, 40 caliber with an affixed StreamLight tactical light, serial number RVS121. Officers immediately began retracing the path of the foot chase but the weapon was not located. The suspect in the purse snatching has been identified as 18-year old Adrian Pride. He was booked into the Pima County Jail for 1 count of shoplifting and 1 count of theft. If you see the weapon call 911 or 88-CRIME.
30. READING, PA, 3/04/14: Reading Police are investigating a report of a gunshot fired into a home. Police were on the scene in the 900 block of Patton Avenue just after 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. No injuries were reported. Police say a teenager playing with a gun accidentally fired it. The bullet traveled through the wall and into a neighboring home.
31. NUEVO, CA, 3/04/14: Police Wednesday said a shooting that killed a 5-year-old boy at his Riverside County home was accidental. The incident was reported around 5:20 p.m. Tuesday in the 31000 block of Wolskill Avenue in Nuevo, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said. When deputies arrived on scene, they found the child deceased in the home, suffering from a gunshot wound. No arrests have been made as of yet. UPDATE: A 5-year-old boy who found a gun in his home appears to have accidentally shot and killed himself, a source within the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday on the condition of anonymity. MORE: Sheriff’s officials have identified a 5-year-old boy who died in an apparent accidental shooting last week in Nuevo. Gerardo Paez, of Los Angeles, was found dead about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, at a home in the 31000 block of Wolfskill Avenue, Riverside County sheriff’s officials said.
32. WEST BEND, WI, 3/04/14: A man is injured in his second-floor apartment in West Bend when he was struck by a wayward bullet. Police say a man on the first floor of the apartment building was handling a rifle when it shot up through the ceiling Tuesday night. WTMJ-TV says the bullet hit the second-floor resident in the stomach. He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Officers arrested the man handling the rifle.
33. SPENCER, OK, 3/04/14: An Oklahoma County Sheriff's deputy accidentally shot himself in the foot when he tried to shoot a dog that was attacking him Tuesday morning in Spencer. According to the Sheriff's office, at about 9:30 a.m., a deputy responded to the report of a vicious animal in the area of 3500 Hicks Avenue. Authorities say a large pit-bull had attacked two people, including an under aged girl who was transported to the hospital to receive stitches. When the deputy arrived at the scene, the dog began attacking him, according to the Sheriff's office. The dog had a hold of the deputy's leg, and in an attempt to protect himself and others in the area, the deputy attempted to shoot the dog. However, according to the Sheriff's office, when the deputy pulled the trigger, the dog pulled on his leg. Instead of shooting the dog, the deputy accidentally shot himself in the foot. The dog has been captured by the Midwest City Animal Control. The deputy has been taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries.
34. FLAGSTAFF, AZ, 3/04/14: A Flagstaff man had to be extracted from his vehicle this week when he crashed after accidentally shooting himself in the foot while driving. According to reports from the Flagstaff Police Department, the man picked up his .45-caliber Heckler & Koch pistol around 10 a.m. Tuesday from a gun store on South Milton Road, where he was “getting some barrel work done.” At some point on his way home, he noticed the gun was cocked. Instead of pulling over, the man decided to try to uncock the firearm while he was still driving. Then, the gun went off. The man instantly knew he had shot himself in the foot. Already in pain and bleeding profusely, he once again decided not to pull over. Instead, he put the gun in the glove compartment and tried to drive himself to Flagstaff Medical Center. The man was cruising through the 700 block of North Switzer Canyon when he blacked out from blood loss. He lost control of his car and careened off the road, smashing into a tree in front of the Olivia White Hospice Home. Emergency responders had to cut down the tree with a chainsaw to remove the man from his wrecked vehicle. He was treated on the scene by paramedics and then transported to FMC. The hospice owner estimated the landscaping damage at more than $1,000. The case is still under investigation. So far, no charges have been filed.
35. MOBILE, AL, 3/05/14: A shooting which claimed the life of a 7-year-old boy on Wednesday has been ruled an accident after investigators determined the gun fired while the child was holding it, said Mobile Police Department spokeswoman. Around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, officers were called to a reported shooting on the 2600 block of Wealthy Street, said MPD spokeswoman Ashley Rains. When they arrived, they found 7-year-old J'Daun Hill suffering from a single gunshot wound to his head. He was transported to the University of South Alabama Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. He was listed in critical condition on Wednesday afternoon. Before 4 p.m., police were notified that J'Daun had died of his injury. "The investigation revealed the child found the gun inside the home and was handling it when it accidentally discharged, causing the fatal injury," Rains said.
36. HOUSTON, TX, 3/05/14: Police took a Houston woman in for questioning after they found her boyfriend dead in their northwest side home late Wednesday, officers said. The shooting was reported around 10 p.m. on Ojeman Road near Friendship Road. Officers with the Houston Police Department arrived to find a man, 46, with a gunshot wound to the chest dead inside the home. The man’s girlfriend was still there and said the shooting was an accident, police said. Police said the woman was moving boxes and other items when a shotgun went off, wounding the man. The woman also told police she was moving out due to an argument she had with her boyfriend earlier in the day. She was taken downtown for further questioning.
37. PANOLA CO., TX, 3/05/14: Deputy Denise Gray, Deputy Alan Smith and Deputy Adam Jones were dispatched to ETMC Carthage Emergency Room regarding a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, we made contact with a male subject who had a single gunshot wound to his right ankle. The victim said that he had a handgun hidden underneath his sofa. Victim said that while sitting on his sofa the gun accidentally discharged. Deputies recovered the gun and photographed the scene. This case is being investigated.
38. KALISPELL, MT, 3/05/14: The West Valley Fire Department responded to a Three Mile Drive home after a man accidentally shot himself in the calf. The man initially lost consciousness, but emergency personnel were able to get control of the bleeding and he was reported alert, oriented and stable while being transported to the hospital.
39. SAN ANTONIO, TX, 3/06/14: A 25-year-old Odessa man accidentally shot himself after he left a Downtown restaurant. The man had been at Hooters near Alamo Plaza and was in his car and trying to load a 45-automatic weapon in his lap. The gun accidentally discharged. The bullet went through the man's thigh and came through his knee. The man was taken to San Antonio Military Medical Center, but is expected to recover.
40. CHICAGO, IL, 3/07/14: A woman working at a thrift store in the South Side Washington Heights neighborhood died Friday morning after a gun hidden in dropped-off clothing accidentally went off and shot her in the chest. The 54-year-old woman was working at the store in the 9400 block of South Ashland Avenue about 9:45 a.m., according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. The victim and a co-worker were sorting through clothing in a back room of the store when the co-worker shook a sock, a gun fell out onto the floor and discharged, striking the woman in the chest, sources said. She was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where she was pronounced dead at 10:47 a.m., according to the medical examiner’s office. Her name was not released Friday afternoon pending notification of family. Area South detectives are investigating.
41. BOZEMAN, MT, 3/07/14: A 74-year-old Bozeman man who was trying to scare off an intruder at his home early Friday morning accidentally shot himself in the hand. Police say Carl Craft was asleep in his Church Avenue home when he was awoken by 23-year-old Orion Audisio Alonso banging on his front door around 1:50 a.m. Friday. Craft told police he didn’t recognize Alonso and yelled at him to leave several times, telling Alonso he was armed. Despite ordering Alonso to leave, Alonso continued banging on the door trying to get in, charging documents say. While loading a handgun, Craft accidentally shot his hand, but then was able to fire a warning shot through the door, charging documents say. However, Alonso continued banging on the door, breaking the window out of a storm door before police arrived and arrested Alonso, court documents say. Police say Alonso appeared intoxicated and told investigators he believed he was at his own house.
42. REYNOLDSBURG, OH, 3/07/14: Reynoldsburg Police are investigating a report of a shooting involving a child. Officers were called to Tamar Court just off Livingston Avenue around 8:00 a.m. Friday. Police tell 10TV the child accidentally shot himself in the hand. He is expected to be ok. Investigators say the gun used in the shooting was recovered at the scene.
43. EAST NORRITON, PA, 3/07/14: The pregnant wife of a Pennsylvania State Trooper was killed Friday after the accidental discharge of a weapon inside their East Norriton home. The incident was reported shortly before 2:30 p.m. Friday in the 3000 block of Stoney Creek Road in East Norriton. Details are sketchy, but police have confirmed to Action News that the discharge struck the trooper's pregnant wife. The woman was transported to Mercy Suburban Hospital where she was later pronounced dead. State police say the trooper is a seven-year veteran of the force operating out of the Skippack barracks. So far it is unclear who was handling the weapon at the time of the discharge. Montgomery County detectives are on the scene assisting the East Norriton Police with the investigation. UPDATE: The shooting in the home on the 3000 block of Stony Creek Road in East Norriton occurred around 2:30 p.m. Friday, police said. The officer pulled the trigger while taking apart his .45-caliber handgun for cleaning but did not realize the gun was loaded, police said.
44. SMITH CO., TX, 3/07/14: An East Texas man is in the hospital after accidently shooitng himself in the chest. At 12:21 p.m., Friday, dispatchers with the Smith County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a woman at a residence on County Road 397 who reported that a man at that location had accidentally shot himself. Deputies and emergency personnel responded to the call and found a man with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to a local hospital where he is reportedly undergoing surgery for his injuries. At this time, a preliminary investigation is underway to determine the exact cause and reason for the man’s injuries.
45. CHERRY HILL, NJ, 3/07/14: A man was arrested Friday after accidentally discharging his weapon in an office building next to the Cherry Hill Mall, police said. No one was hurt. The incident occurred around noon in the lobby of the One Cherry Hill building, which connects with the mall parking lot. Corye Johnson, 33, of Camden, discharged a single gunshot from a handgun, police said. He then walked outside and left in a car, which police later tracked down. Cherry Hill Police Sgt. Richard Humes said there were few people in the area during the incident. Johnson was charged with possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a felon, and possession of hollow point bullets. He was held at the Camden County ail on a bail of $102,500.
46. CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO, 3/07/14: Police in Cape Girardeau say no one was injured when a bullet pierced the window of a home day care business. The Southeast Missourian reports police believe the bullet was a stray shot fired by an unknown person around 1 p.m. Friday. An officer at the scene told the newspaper the bullet passed through the window and hit a wall, lodging in the drywall. Police had responded to a report of multiple shots in the area. Officers don't believe the day care was the intended target. Police stopped a vehicle that had been seen in the area at the time and were trying to determine if the occupants were suspects, victims or witnesses. Schools in the area were locked down for about 30 minutes as a precaution.
47. COLUMBUS, GA, 3/07/14: A police investigation into a Friday shooting has revealed that a Columbus man accidentally shot himself in the butt but told authorities a gunman assaulted him. Maurice Brown, 29, was taken to Midtown Medical Center after the 7:36 p.m. shooting in the 700 block of Harold Street. After police were called to check on a shooting victim, Brown told officers he heard a gunshot as he stepped from his vehicle in the yard. Brown said he didn’t see the gunman but there was a man dressed in all black riding a bicycle when the shooting occurred. An investigation determined that Brown accidentally shot himself with a pistol in his back, right pant pocket. After his release from the hospital, he will face a false report of a crime charge.
48. OAKBORO, NC, 3/07/14: A teenager accidentally shot by his friend died Friday night, Oakboro Police say. The shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. in the 600 block of East 1st Street. Chief Joe Lowder tells NBC Charlotte says a friend was showing the gun to the victim when it fired. Paramedics took 19-year-old Will Hughes to Stanly County Medical Center, where he died. It has not been determined if charges will be filed but police say they consider the incident accidental.
49. YUMA, AZ, 3/07/14: [Ed. note: I'm not really sure what to do with this one. There's not much detail, and it has been ruled an accidental death. But is Russian roulette really an accident?] Authorities in southwestern Arizona say a 19-year-old man is dead after an accidental shooting. Yuma County Sheriff's deputies went to a Yuma home Friday after getting a report of a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, deputies located David Henry with a single gunshot wound to the head. Investigators say Henry and another person were playing Russian roulette with a loaded handgun. After interviewing all parties that were present at the time of the shooting, sheriff's investigators have ruled the incident as an accidental death.

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Originally posted to David Waldman on Wed Mar 12, 2014 at 02:39 PM PDT.