As the Founders intended: the woman with the foot so tyrannical, she shot it twice. GunFAIL CLXV

By David Waldman  

Saturday Nov 14, 2015  7:15 PM EST

Eighteen of a record 68 guns discovered by TSA agents at airports around the country, during the week of Oct. 23-29, 2015.

Halloween often brings out a little extra gun crazy. In the week ending on October 31st, 27 people accidentally shot themselves. Seventeen kids were accidentally shot, five people accidentally fired their weapons into the homes or property of others, four people accidentally fired guns they were cleaning, three people were accidentally shot at the firing range, and returning to another continuing tradition, two people were accidentally shot at a gun show (the second such accident in three years at the same Idaho venue). There were also five hunting accidents, and six police-involved GunFAILs (resulting in four law enforcement officers shot, along with two bystanders). In other words, a pretty typical week.

But let me tell you about the week’s top crazy. Let’s see. We had a gun selfie injury, a Pennsylvania man shot from over a mile away, while walking in his parents’ back yard, a 9-year-old boy shot when an upstairs neighbor accidentally shot himself in the foot in the apartment above, and a Florida man who fired a shotgun in the air during an argument with his girlfriend, only to end up wounding himself in the neck.

We also had a string of three 2-year-olds accidentally shot in a three day period, two of whom fatally shot themselves with guns they found unsecured. The first such incident, incredibly enough, involved a loaded shotgun left on a bedside night table in an in-home daycare. Turn that one over in your mind for a minute.

And from the “maybe you just weren’t cut out for this gun thing” files, we have the Cortez, Colorado woman who, apparently frightened by someone at the front door, accidentally shot herself in the foot with a .45 caliber pistol, then sent a second accidentally discharged round through an interior wall, luckily just missing her sleeping roommate. The capper? She’d already accidentally shot herself in the same foot earlier this year.

1. BATAVIA TOWNSHIP, MI, 10/25/15: A Branch County man was airlifted to an Indiana hospital after accidentally shooting himself in the hand. The Branch County Sheriff’s Office said a 57-year-old man was cleaning his 9mm handgun Sunday afternoon when he accidentally shot himself. He was not aware there was a round in the chamber when the gun fired into his left hand. Deputies were called to the 300 block of Nash Rd. to assist with first aid. The man was ultimately transported to Parkview Hospital in Ft. Wayne, Indiana by helicopter to treat his significant injuries. The incident remains under investigation, however deputies don’t believe alcohol was a factor.
2. DANBURY, CT, 10/25/15: A city man was arrested early Sunday morning after he accidentally shot himself in the arm during a fight with his sister’s boyfriend, police said. According to police, Savannah Guyton, 23, got into an argument with her boyfriend at her Linron Drive East home around 2 AM Sunday. Police said the argument escalated and Guyton bit and hit her boyfriend, who was not identified because he is under 18 years old. Guyton’s brother, Brian, arrived and began kicking at the door, police said. After the couple let him in, Brian Guyton, 21, pointed a gun in the face of his sister’s boyfriend, police said. The boyfriend pushed the gun away and the two started fighting, police said. The gun went off during the fight and Brian Guyton was shot in the left bicep. The sister’s boyfriend then took the gun away from Brian Guyton and placed it on a couch, police said. Danbury Hospital staff reported the shooting to police around 3:20 AM after Savannah Guyton brought her brother there, police said. The siblings gave varying accounts that differed from the boyfriend’s statement and other information discovered during the investigation, police said. Brian Guyton was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm, interfering with the duties of a police officer, disorderly conduct and threatening. He was being held at the hospital where he needed to undergo shoulder surgery. Bond was set at $150,000. Savannah Guyton was charged with disorderly conduct, third-degree assault and interfering with the duties of an officer. She was released after posting $1,000 bond. The sister’s boyfriend was not charged.
3. TONOPAH, AZ, 10/25/15: Deputies with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a shooting scene after a young teen accidently shot himself with a home-made gun. Deputy Joaquin Enriquez says a 13-year-old boy shot himself with a home-made pipe gun that he learned how to make from the internet. The shooting occurred near 299th Avenue and Roosevelt in Tonopah. Paramedics airlifted the boy to a local hospital and officials believe he has non-life-threatening injuries, but they are still waiting on an updated condition report.
4. PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ, 10/25/15: A hunter who accidentally fired a deer rifle into the Maverik store on Highway 69 and Country Club Drive on Sunday evening, Oct. 25, was issued a misdemeanor citation for discharging a firearm within town limits. The 58-year-old man, from Phoenix, "stopped at the store when he realized he forgot to unload his hunting rifle, located in a case behind the seat" of his truck, PVPD spokesman Sgt. Jake Jackson said. "(The hunter) stated he was attempting to 'clear' the weapon and thought it was pointed in the air when it went off." The bullet entered the side of the store above the beverage coolers and stopped when it struck the metal roof. The man stayed on the scene and "was apologetic," Jackson said. His rifle was impounded. No one was hurt.
5. MASON CITY, IA, 10/25/15: Authorities say a man shot himself in the abdomen in Mason City. The incident happened around 11:57 PM Sunday. Police officers responded to the 300 block of 9th Street SE for what is being described as an accidental shooting. The man, who has not been identified, was transported to Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa for treatment. An investigation is continuing.
6. ORLANDO, FL, 10/25/15: Three children are recovering after deputies say a teen accidentally fired a gun Sunday in Orlando. The shooting happened Sunday night in the driveway of a home on Alrix Drive. Deputies said it appears a neighborhood friend in his teens showed up holding a gun. They said he accidentally shot two children. One child was hit in the foot and another child hit in the hand. A third child went to the hospital with gun-powered burns. The children range in age from 7 to 13, deputies said. The injuries are non-life-threatening, deputies said.
7. HARRISON, TN, 10/25/15: Hamilton County releases more information on the accidental shooting of a 13 year old Sunday night in Harrison. The department says that the preliminary investigation found that the young teen was accidentally shot by a family member while posing for photos with firearms. And the firearms were illegally obtained. The case remains under investigation as the teen recovers from the wound.
8. COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, 10/25/15: Investigators say a man told them he was “playing around” with a handgun when it went off and killed a friend after a night of partying in Colorado Springs. The Gazette reports 24-year-old Benjamen Sinclair has been charged with manslaughter in the death of 30-year-old Ethan Montoya early Sunday morning. An arrest affidavit says he told investigators he thought the 9 mm handgun was unloaded when he pointed it at and said goodnight to Montoya in a joking manner. Montoya was shot in the upper left part of his chest. Attempts to find out if Sinclair has hired an attorney were unsuccessful Tuesday night.
9. PROSPERITY, SC, 10/25/15: A teenager was killed in a hunting accident Sunday in Newberry County, the coroner said. Newberry County Coroner Craig Newton said 18-year-old Kendall Lesher Williams of Prosperity was killed at about 7 PM Sunday. The accidental shooting happened off Highway 391 in Prosperity, Newton said. Newton said Williams suffered a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. The circumstances of the shooting were not released. Williams was a student at Mid Carolina High School and was a senior. The death is being investigated by the Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division and the Newberry Coroner's Office with assistance from the Sheriff’s Office. Newton said Williams’ death has affected several families, and he has asked that their privacy be respected. "I offer my prayers and sympathy to all who have been touched or affected by this tragic event. My heartfelt condolences are with you all during this difficult time," Newton said. Principal Ray Cooper released a statement that says: “It is with heavy hearts, that we at Mid-Carolina High School mourn the loss of one of our own, Kendall Williams who passed away this weekend. Kendall Williams was an outstanding young man who was liked by all and he will be greatly missed by students, and staff alike. “It is a sad and difficult time at MCHS for students and staff as we cope with this tragic loss. Additional support is being provided for any student or staff member who needs it. In addition to our own school based counselors, all of our surrounding elementary, middle, and high schools have sent their counselors to MCHS to ensure that we have enough help available. “Westview Behavioral Center has also provided a clinical counselors as well. Support zones have been established in multiple locations across our campus with a counselor assigned to each zone. Also, at the request of the students, the Media Center is being made available in the mornings, and during lunch as a quiet place for students to meet and collectively mourn this tragic loss.”
10. VANCLEAVE, MS, 10/25/15: A Vancleave teenager who was reportedly attacked and shot on Oct. 25 has admitted to authorities that he made up the story. According to investigators, the 17-year old accidentally shot himself. The initial report stated that the juvenile was attacked by an intruder after returning home from church. At the time of the attack, the teen stated that he was able to retrieve his father’s gun but was shot with it during the struggle. According to Jackson County Sheriff's Department, the shot was instead accidentally self-inflicted, a story that has been corroborated by the teen. Investigators are now looking into the possibility of filing charges against the youth for the False Reporting of a Crime.
11. JERSEY CITY, NJ, 10/25/15: A Jersey City man was charged with weapons offenses after police heard a shot fired in the area of Rutgers and Cator avenues early Sunday morning, police said. Omar Richardson, 22, of Clinton Avenue, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and as a person not to have weapons, police said. Richardson told police he found the gun hidden on a tire of a parked car — a common hiding place for a community gun — and was going to sell it, police said. But the gun went off accidentally, Richardson told police, and he then hid it in a pipe in an alleyway on Rutgers Avenue, police said. Police made a quick arrest of Richardson after a detective working in the Juvenile Bureau heard the gunshot and began investigating and called for backup, police said. Officers saw Richardson walking and stopped him, and at the same time, an area resident told police they saw Richardson quickly walk into and out of the alley. Police then searched the alley and found the gun, they said.
12. BELLEVILLE, NJ, 10/26/15: A Belleville police officer was injured Monday when his gun accidently went off at police headquarters in town. "It appears to be an accidental discharge," said Belleville Deputy Police Chief Mark Minichini on Tuesday. According to an electronic news alert received at 5:25 PM Monday, the discharge occurred in a locker room. Minichini explained that the male officer was slightly injured, and had been taken to University Hospital in Newark. The nature of the injury was not disclosed, nor was the name of the officer who was injured. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating, which Minichini said is standard in such situations.
13. HENDERSONVILLE, NC, 10/26/15: A 2-year-old girl died after sustaining a shotgun wound this morning in Henderson County in what appears to be an accidental shooting, according to Major Frank Stout of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office. "We got a call little after 9 AM, a 911 call," Stout said. "We responded to scene, and there was a 2-year-old child there. They transported the child by ambulance to Mission Hospital. We're socked in with fog and rain down here this morning, and the MAMA helicopter could not get in." The girl was shot in the "upper extremities," Stout said, and "there was some indication of life for them to have transported (the child)." Police are investigating at the home where the shooting occurred, on Golden Eagle Way off Crab Creek Road in the southwestern part of the county. Asked if anyone else was home at the time of the shooting, Stout said, "That is part of what we're trying to find out. We're searching to get the answers to that." Check back at Citizen-Times.com later, as more details become available. In 2015, 582 children ages 11 and under died from gunshots wounds in America, according to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive. Additionally, 2,151 children ages 12-17 were killed. In all, 1,533 accidental shooting deaths have occurred.MORE:The 2-year-old victim has been identified as Abigail Newman. A 911 caller, who said she was the only adult at home with four children, said the victim had been shot in the neck by a shotgun that was left on a table. "...It was loaded on the table and I didn't know it, and a little girl is shot," she tells the dispatcher. The caller's name was redacted from the 911 recording. The woman later tells the dispatcher the gun is her husband's and was left on a table by the bed. She says her husband is at work.
14. WALSTONBURG, NC, 10/26/15: A hunter who died in an accidental shooting Monday has been identified as Melvin "Mel" Boyd Jr., 57, of Greenville. His family owns Boyd's Barber Shop in downtown Greenville, and he worked there as a barber. The medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death, but it appears he accidentally shot himself, said Gary Harrison, a wildlife enforcement officer in Pitt County. The single gunshot wound was to Boyd's head, he said. "He was in the hunting position in the tree stand," Harrison said. Boyd was hunting with a 14-year-old boy who he was mentoring and the two went into the woods together, according to Harrison. The boy was in one tree stand that was not visible and was out of shouting distance from the tree stand where Boyd set up to hunt, Harrison said. At some point, the boy tried to communicate electronically with Boyd and was not able to reach him, Harrison said. The sheriff's office originally received a call saying Boyd was a missing hunter, but before they arrived, Boyd's body was located in the tree stand. There did not seem to be any indication that the boy or any other hunter may have accidentally shot Boyd, Harrison said. "It doesn't appear that anybody was involved with the discharge other than the hunter," Harrison said. Harrison and Pitt County deputies went to the scene, took photos and discussed among themselves how they believe the accident happened, but it will be up to the Medical Examiner's Office to make the final determination, he said. Harrison said there are several ways a hunter may accidentally shoot himself. One may be that a rifle may have a mechanical failure and as the hunter is trying to determine why or trying to fix it, the weapon may discharge, he said.
15. BOISE, ID, 10/26/15: A 37-year-old Boise man was hospitalized after he fled a traffic stop and was shot by a police officer just before midnight Monday. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, and he was stable Tuesday, Boise Police Deputy Chief Eugene Smith said. The suspect fired a gun during the incident — a chase that ended in the backyard of a house on Peasley Street in the Depot Bench neighborhood — but the lone officer who pursued the man into the yard was not injured, Smith said. That officer was identified as Adam Crist, an eight-year veteran of the department. The man’s injuries were to his thigh and hand. Police believe he shot himself in the hand. His name has not been released, but it will be if charges are filed, police said.
16. NORTH CODORUS TOWNSHIP, PA, 10/26/15: A man visiting his parents' home in North Codorus Township was struck by a "one in a million" shot Monday afternoon, police said. The shooting seems to be accidental, Southwestern Regional Police said. Jeremy Dettinger, 24, of Spring Grove was walking in his parents' yard in the 2000 block of Martin Road in the township at 1:25 PM when he suddenly felt a pain in his back and fell to the ground, police said in a news release. A friend who was with him called 911. Dettinger was taken to York Hospital and is expected to recover, police said. Police said the bullet was fired from a rifle a mile or more away from the scene. Southwestern Regional Police Chief Greg Bean said there is nothing to indicate that the shot was intended to hit Dettinger. "With the information we have right now, it appears it was fired by someone who was not careful," Bean said. Investigators will be looking more into the path of the bullet Tuesday, Bean said. "The bullet that hit the victim is a very high-powered type of bullet fired from a very high-powered type of rifle," he said, adding that had the bullet hit Dettinger at a closer range he would have been more seriously injured. Bean called the shot was "one in a million," and that Dettinger was in the "wrong place at the wrong time."
17. BUFFALO, NY, 10/27/15: A Buffalo teenager was in critical condition Tuesday after suffering what police believe was an accidental gunshot wound, police said. The 18-year-old was shot at around 6:15 PM Monday on Thatcher Avenue, between East Amherst Street and Kensington Avenue. Detectives said it appeared to be an accidental shooting. The man was taken to Erie County Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition.
18. RUTLAND CHARTER TOWNSHIP, MI, 10/27/15: A Shelbyville man suffered a severe gunshot wound to the arm after he accidentally shot himself while exiting a kayak and entering a duck blind along Otis Lake on Tuesday. Police were called just after 8 AM Oct. 27 to the Rutland Township lake after two other men who were duck hunting witnessed the shot fired and called 911. Michigan State Police troopers responded, and using a Barry County sheriff's marine unit boat, were able to reach the injured man. He was taken to a waiting AeroMed helicopter and transported to Grand Rapids for treatment of his injuries, police say.
19. ACWORTH, GA, 10/27/15: Authorities said a 2-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed himself at a home in Acworth Tuesday evening. Police said it happened in the 1000 block of Athena Court in a subdivision near Interstate 75. Additional details were not immediately available.
20. LAKEWOOD, CO, 10/27/15: A Lakewood Police officer was hit in the leg by a rifle round that ricocheted, hit the concrete and probably fragmented while at a shooting range Tuesday morning. She was on the pistol range at the time. Even though she was struck in the leg, Lakewood Police said it just cut her. Her injuries were not life-threatening. It happened at the Rooney Valley Law Enforcement Training Facility. Additional details about the circumstances of the incident were not released.
21. SAN JOSE, CA, 10/28/15: A 9-year-old San Jose boy was wounded early Wednesday when his upstairs neighbor shot himself in the foot and the bullet pierced the floor between them, police said. The bizarre incident occurred about 5:45 AM in the 1900 block of Almaden Road, police said. Investigators said the man discharged the gun and the round went through his foot and the floor before striking the boy in the leg as he lay in bed. Both were taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, said police spokesman Sgt. Enrique Garcia. Neither was identified. Officials could not immediately say if the gunshot was an accident or if the man would be arrested.
22. NORTH STAR TOWNSHIP, MN, 10/28/15: A North Star Township man was injured Wednesday morning after accidentally shooting himself in the leg. Authorities responded to Northwoods Road and Pequaywan Lake Road in North Star Township around 9:30 on reports of an accidental gun shot wound. They say 63-year-old Clark Coole was road hunting in his car when he saw a grouse and loaded his shotgun while exiting the vehicle. Coole slipped due to wet road conditions and the gun fired into his leg. He was transported by ambulance to St. Lukes Hospital in Duluth with non-life threatening injuries. The incident remains under investigation by the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office.
23. CLEVELAND, OH, 10/28/15: Cleveland police say they responded to Bliss Ave. around 5:30 PM Wednesday for a 4-year-old boy who had been shot in the shoulder. At first, the boy’s father told police it happened during a drive-by shooting, then said a 5-year-old accidentally shot the child. Police determined that the shot was fired from inside the home. They initially said the father may have accidentally shot the 4-year-old, but Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams says they are still investigating who fired the shot. The child’s father was taken into custody for endangering children and weapons charges. The 4-year-old was taken to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. Police say at this time, the child should not need surgery. The boy’s mother is with him. Police say there were 4 other children in the home; they are in the custody of Children and Family Services. The investigation continues.
24. DUBUQUE, IA, 10/28/15: A Dubuque man was shot in the leg Wednesday, but police said it's unclear if he fired the gun. Dubuque police reported responding just before 9:30 AM Wednesday to an apartment complex at 444 Angella St., where they found Phillip G. Wilson Jr., 20, of 1690 White St., No. 4, sitting on the steps of the building with a gunshot wound to the leg. Wilson was taken by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque and later was transferred to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, police said. They said Wilson's injury was not believed to be life-threatening. Questions surround the shooting, however. Police said Wilson reported having been shot about 30 minutes before officers arrived, but that his cooperation with the ensuing investigation has been minimal. Lt. Scott Baxter said there is still a "strong possibility" that Wilson accidentally shot himself. "We're not ruling out other possibilities at this point, either," Baxter said. He said investigators have not recovered a gun and were trying to determine whether Wilson was in an apartment at that address when he was injured. Lt. Steve Olson said police were obtaining a search warrant for an apartment potentially connected to the incident. He said police do not believe there is a danger to the public in relation to the shooting. The shooting marked the 30th confirmed instance of shots fired in the city limits this year. Recently updated figures from the Dubuque Police Department show there were 25 such incidents in both 2013 and 2014. The 29th confirmed incident in Dubuque occurred just a day earlier, according to information released Wednesday by police. Officers responded to a report of shots fired at about 5 AM Tuesday in the area of Ellis Street and Dorgan Place. Four shell casings were recovered, and Alejandra Rubio, 27, of 409 W. Locust St., No. 2, reported about $1,000 in damage to her vehicle. Police said no other damage nor any injuries had been reported with that shooting. "(A connection between the two incidents) is a possibility, but we're unable to confirm at this point," Baxter said.
25. WEST PALM BEACH, FL, exact date unknown: A woman was standing in the living room of her apartment in the 3000 block of Broadway when a bullet entered through the bathroom wall. While police were at the scene, the next-door tenant arrived and said he had accidentally discharged the firearm while cleaning it in his bathroom. He said he had been smoking pot and was under the influence during the incident. Police arrested the man, then went to his apartment where they found three handguns with four fully loaded magazines, three rifles with 24 fully loaded magazines and a hunting knife. The items were taken by police and placed into evidence.
26. PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL, 10/28/15: One man was arrested after hitting another man over the head with a rifle, which accidentally discharged last night in a Palm Beach Gardens shopping plaza, police spokeswoman Ellen Lovejoy said. The two men and one woman had been arguing when the man arrested struck him over the head, Lovejoy said. No one was struck when the rifle accidentally discharged, but the man arrested and female witness fled from the scene, police say. They were later found nearby and the man arrested, Lovejoy said. His name has not been released yet. The victim was transported to a local hospital to treat a minor head wound. Update, 4 PM: Police have identified a man arrested in connection with a shooting incident from Wednesday night in Palm Beach Gardens as Anthony Bennett Mattys, 19, of Pompano Beach. Mattys faces two counts of carrying a concealed weapon and one count of aggravated battery with a firearm. He was being held at the Palm Beach County Jail Thursday afternoon in lieu of $9,000 bail.
27. NORTH FORT MYERS, FL, 10/28/15: Deputies responded to what was reported as a shooting Wednesday afternoon in North Fort Myers. It ended up being a man who shot his own arm by accident and lied about it to deputies, the Lee County Sheriff's Office said. Neighbors in the North Fort Myers mobile home community said they heard a gunshot about 3:20 PM. The sheriff's office helicopter circling the area until about 3:35 PM. The sheriff's office sent at least three deputies, a K-9 unit and had a helicopter circling above. Less than an hour prior, Fort Myers police responded to a fatal shooting.
28. FORT MYERS, FL, 10/29/15: A man is under arrest in the accidental shooting of a 2-year-old boy, confirmed Fort Myers police. Rashunn Hill Jr., the boy’s father, is charged with culpable negligence for allowing the gun to be within reach of the toddler. The child accidentally shot himself at his home in the Cypress Court Apartments on Seminole Avenue. Police say the parents did not call 911, but rather they received a call Thursday morning from the Gulf Coast Medical Center saying the child was being treated for minor injuries. “Far as I know, this is a case of carelessness by the adults and the child was able to get a hold of the gun and it discharged,” said Fort Myers Police Chief Dennis Eads. “It’s happened several times over the past few years, where children have gotten guns and accidentally shot themselves.”
29. HUDSON, FL, 10/29/15: The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is investigating what it has classified as an apparent accidental shooting that occurred in Hudson early Thursday morning. According to the agency, deputies were called to a home at 12324 Kitten Trail after a gunshot was fired. The victim, identified as Michael Stroehlein-Toro, 21, and his girlfriend had been in an argument, the agency wrote in an email. Stroehlein-Toro went outside and fired a shotgun into the air, deputies noted. “After firing the shotgun he sustained a wound to the neck,” the email said. “There is no indication of foul play or suicide attempt at this time.” Stroehlein-Toro was taken to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point for treatment. Deputies say he was alert, talking and never lost consciousness. Complete details about how his was injured are not yet available. Investigators say Stroehlein-Toro was being uncooperative. The case remains under investigation.
30. STERLING, VA, 10/29/15: A Sterling man accidentally shot himself while cleaning a firearm. Shortly after midnight on Thursday, October 29, 2015, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Deputies responded to the Lansdowne Campus of Inova Loudoun Hospital where a male arrived at the emergency room with a gunshot wound. It was determined the subject unintentionally discharged the firearm while cleaning the weapon at his home in the 160 block of N. Cottage Road, Sterling. The man’s injuries and condition is unknown at this time. An investigation of the incident is continuing, according to the LCSO.
31. ST. LOUIS, MO, 10/29/15: A woman sustained a minor injury in an officer-involved shooting in the Bevo Mill neighborhood Thursday afternoon. Police said the incident happened in the 4400 block of Taft, which is the same block as a double homicide. Police said one officer and three Division of Family Services workers were going to the home to remove a 1-year-old child in relation to last night's homicide. Police said the family's dog was barricaded in another room when it jumped a barricaded and charged the officer and workers. The officer, fearing concern the dog would attack the officer or DFS worker, fired one shot in the direction of the dog. The dog was not hit, but the dog's owner, a 42-year-old woman, was struck in the leg, Chief Dotson said in a news conference. The dog never bit anyone. Police said the "female victim sustained a non-life threatening minor injury to [her] leg." No officers were injured. The men killed Thursday night were found inside a vehicle around 10:30 PM. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene by EMS, police said. No information regarding suspects has been released. Other information was not immediately known.
32. EUREKA, CA, 10/29/15: A man was injured late yesterday afternoon in a firearm’s accident at the College of the Redwoods Firing Range. According to an email forwarded to us the injury “was a self-inflicted, accidental discharge and occurred during an Advanced Officer training. The injury appears non-life-threatening; the injured officer was conscious and alert. There is no reason for worry.” A second email from Ron Waters, Director of the Administration of Justice school at the college describes the incident to another individual. The person who was injured was a retired annuitant with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department. He suffered a flesh wound to his leg and was treated at St. Joseph Hospital. Again, there is no cause for concern on campus.
33. CROSBYTON, TX, 10/29/15: An FBI agent was accidentally shot by an agent from another law enforcement department Thursday evening while apprehending a suspect in Crosbyton. Sgt. Bryan Witt, with the Texas Department of Public Safety, sent this statement Friday evening: “An FBI agent was injured shortly after 9:30 PM Thursday while assisting state law enforcement agencies in apprehending a suspect during an investigation in Crosbyton, Texas. The preliminary information indicates that the FBI agent was accidentally shot by a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Criminal Investigations Division (CID) special agent. DPS Texas Rangers, DPS CID special agents and FBI agents were all on scene as part of the investigation. The suspect is currently being held in the Crosby County Jail. The FBI and DPS are coordinating efforts in the investigation of this incident. The DPS CID special agent is on voluntary paid leave at this time.” Mike Orndorff, a local agent, was part of a group of law enforcement officials from the FBI and DPS who were attempting to arrest a man when “an incident happened” about 10 PM Thursday on a dirt county road south of Crosbyton, said Texas DPS Cpl. Bryan Witt. By late Friday morning, Witt confirmed law enforcement had one person in custody in connection with the incident, but he would not identify that person or disclose charges. An FBI spokeswoman elaborated in a statement emailed to A-J Media early Friday afternoon. “An FBI special agent assigned to the Lubbock Resident Agency was shot Thursday evening while assisting state law enforcement agencies apprehend a suspect in an investigation in Crosbyton, Texas,” FBI spokeswoman Allison Mahan wrote. “The circumstances surrounding the shooting are currently under investigation, and the FBI is coordinating investigative efforts with law enforcement partners.” Orndorff was at University Medical Center on Friday. Witt declined to provide details on Orndorff’s injuries or condition. Orndorff was a Lubbock police officer before joining the FBI.
34. HARRIS CO., TX, 10/30/15: A veteran was killed in an accidental shooting Friday in north Harris County. A witness told KPRC 2 the victim was loading a duffel bag into his SUV when his 12-gauge shotgun fired. A shotgun round struck the victim in his groin. The witness, who immediately tried to help, said the victim was still conscious and told him he just returned from serving three tours of duty in Afghanistan. The witness said the man died in his arms.
35. PORT ARTHUR, TX, 10/30/15: A 17-year-old Port Arthur man toying with a new gun accidentally fired a shot that grazed his 16-year-old girlfriend’s ear Friday morning. The incident occurred about 10 AM Oct. 30 at Sunset Way Apartments, 3280 Central Mall Blvd. Port Arthur Police Maj. Raymond Clark said the female was treated at The Medical Center of Southeast Texas. No charges will be filed in the incident.
36. PHOENIX, AZ, 10/30/15: A 5-year-old girl is in stable condition after shooting herself in the leg at her Phoenix home. The Phoenix Fire Department responded to a shooting at a home near 18th Street and Baseline Road around 7 AM Friday. Police said a woman and four children under age 7 were home at the time of the shooting. The children's father was at work. Police said mother was getting the kids ready for school when the girl wandered into the master bedroom, grabbed a 9 mm gun that was in a bag and accidentally shot herself in the thigh. The mother was applying pressure to the wound when officers arrived. The girl was transported to a local hospital and is expected to be OK. At this time, no charges are pending while police investigate.
37. MIDVALE, UT, 10/30/15: An innocent bystander is in critical condition and another is in custody after police say he fired several rounds at a police officer in Midvale. The suspect, Jeremy Bowden, was arrested on multiple felonies last night. According to Unified Police Department, an officer tried to pulled over a car for a routine traffic stop at about 8:50 PM near the Rocket Express Car Wash at 180 W. 7200 S. The suspect fired at the officer. Rounds impacted the UPD vehicle through the driver's headrest, windshield, laptop, and side windows. The officer was shot at multiple times by Bowden and one bullet lodged in the trauma plate of his vest. The officer got out of his car and chased Bowden. The officer who had been shot fired two rounds and struck a bystander who was washing his car. The suspect fled into the neighborhood and was not shot. Sheriff Winder says the suspect and victim had very similar appearance and may have been wearing similar clothing. The victim was a 25-year-old male. Police say he is completely unrelated to the stolen vehicle that originated the stop. According to authorities, the victim was shot through the leg and officers had to apply a tourniquet. Officials say he was taken to the hospital in critical condition. UPDATE: (11/01/15 5:20 PM) The man shot by police is 30-year-old Dustin Evans. His family issued a statement: The family would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of thoughts and prayers. We appreciate your support on this long road to recovery, but we ask for our privacy at this time. Thank you" -The Evans Family
38. STATEN ISLAND, NY, 10/30/15: A Huguenot dad accidentally shot his 13-year-old son in the leg with a gun the boy may have found outside, according to police. Cops say the shooting happened at 67 Covington Circle, at about 10:48 PM Friday. The teen, whose name has not been released, found a Bryco 9mm handgun outside, near the house, and brought it to his dad, who accidentally fired it, an NYPD spokesman said. Even so, detectives are still investigating the origin of the gun and the particulars of what happened, according to law enforcement sources. Meanwhile, police have charged the dad, Vitaliy Velkin, 39, with second-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. The boy was taken to Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, with non life-threatening injuries, police said.
39. MESA CO., CO, 10/30/15: Deputies responded to a reported shooting in the 3200 block of E Road on Friday. Investigation revealed an adult man accidentally shot himself in the leg.
40. BUCYRUS, MO, 10/30/15: A Bucyrus man and woman each face charges related to a shooting incident Friday morning, county authorities said. The case began when a deputy was dispatched at about 11:30 regarding a man at Texas County Memorial Hospital who had suffered an accidental gunshot wound to the foot. The man, 27, told the officer he had recently purchased a 9-milimeter pistol and had removed the magazine but forgot to check the chamber for a bullet. He stated he accidentally pulled the trigger and shot himself in the top of his right foot. During continued investigation, the man confessed that his report was false and it was his wife who had accidentally shot him in the foot when they were arguing over getting a divorce. Contact was made with the woman, also 27, and she declined to share information in an interview at the TCSD office. Probable cause statements were sent to the county prosecutor seeking felony charges of second-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon against the woman, and of felony hindering prosecution and misdemeanor filing a false report against the man.
41. GREENVILLE, NC, 10/31/15: One man is in the hospital after he suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound outside an apartment complex in Greenville Saturday night. The Greenville Police Department Public Information Officer, Kristen Hunter, tells WNCT the incident occurred around 8:00 PM outside Summer Place Apartments. Hunter says the victim was a 51-year-old male. He was taken to Vidant Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.
42. ZIONVILLE, NC, 10/31/15: A 13-year old boy was flown to the Johnson City Medical Center early Saturday evening after suffering a gunshot wound to his abdomen. The incident occurred at a home in the Zionville area sometime around 6:30, with Watauga Medics and Cove Creek Fire/First responders rushing to rendezvous with the family and the injured teen in the 9200 block of US 421 North, the lot of Valley Grocery, finding the young teen suffering from the blast of a shotgun, pellets striking him in the abdomen. First arriving Watauga Deputies and Medics called for the WINGS Air Rescue chopper and set up a landing zone nearby to rush the boy to the Johnson City Medical Center. Deputies then turned their attention to the scene on Camp Joy Road of what is being described as an accidental shooting by another 13-year old—both said to be from Tennessee. Deputies said pellets were found in a wall of that residence.
43. MEMPHIS, TN, 10/31/15: Police believe the Saturday shooting in the 1600 block of Holmes Road, which injured two teens, was accidental. The 15-year-old victim of that shooting told police he was with his 16-year-old friend at the time. He said the friend had his hands in his pockets, and the gun “just went off,” shooting him in the foot and the 16-year-old in the hand. The 15-year-old was transported to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in noncritical condition, and the 16-year-old fled the scene on foot, police said. While police were looking for the suspect, they received another call about a shooting. When they responded to the 5400 block of Lochnivar Road, they found the suspect suffering from a gunshot wound to his hand. He was also transported to Le Bonheur in noncritical condition. The suspect admitted to police he had a gun, but he said he gave it to another friend. The suspect was issued a juvenile summons for unlawful possession of a weapon.
44. SALT LAKE CITY, UT, 10/31/15: In an unrelated incident, about 5:20 PM Saturday, a man claimed he accidentally shot himself while reaching into his friend's bag, Wilking said. The detective described the bag as similar to a gym bag. The victim claimed he was reaching into the bag and accidentally shot himself in the leg. But the victim wouldn't tell police the name of his friend or where he was shot, claiming his friend had warrants out for his arrest, Wilking said. The injury to the leg was not considered to be life threatening.
45. TROY, VT, 10/31/15: State police say a man is recovering from a leg injury after an accidental shooting in Troy. They say Michael Collins and Nicholas Blake of Troy were out target shooting when they headed indoors to clean their guns before a party. They say Blake's gun accidentally went off, hitting Collins in the leg. He's expected to recover.
46. CODY, WY, 10/31/15: A Cody couple is safe following an Oct. 31 incident in which at least one shot was fired, resulting in the discovery of bullet holes in the interior of their 39 Bohica Lane home. The alleged shooter remains at-large. According to a news release from the Park County Sheriff’s office, Bard and Allison Betz, both age 57, told investigators they were inside their home around 6 PM when they heard a very loud noise. They inspected the interior of the home and discovered a hole in an interior closet door where it appeared a bullet had struck. They discovered several other holes including one through an exterior wall. Evidence indicated the path of the bullet went from the exterior wall, across a staircase and through a secondary wall near the family’s computer station. The bullet then continued across the room, through the closet door and into another wall where it became lodged. “Mrs. Betz said that she sits at that computer 80 percent of the time,” Sheriff Scott Steward said. “She was very fortunate.” At about 6:30 PM, Park County 911 Center received the emergency call. Deputies made contact with a hunter outside the Betz residence. The hunter, Patrick Harrington, age 64 and of Cody, said he was hunting in the area and saw someone park their car on County Road 2AB and walk into the area he was hunting. At some point, this person began to shoot in Harrington’s direction. Harrington began to wave his hands in the air to signal this person to stop shooting. The news release says Harrington told investigators he believes one of the shots from this unknown hunter was the shot that had struck the house. He did not get a good look at the person nor his/her vehicle. Mr. Betz also had seen this unknown person out hunting in the fields in front of his house earlier. When he heard the noise in his house and found the bullet hole, he drove out to the field to look for the person(s) responsible. He said he saw this same unknown hunter walk down to a vehicle parked by County Road 2AB and drive away. Betz added he had seen Harrington out hunting earlier in the day and that he was not shooting in the direction of the home. Steward warned hunters they are responsible for the bullet once it leaves the weapon and need to be aware of their surroundings at all times. “Sometimes hunters become so excited when they see that trophy wander into their sights,” Steward said. “But they need to take that extra minute to be aware of possible hunters in the area and where their round may go should they miss their mark, especially in populated areas.”
47. WHITE PINE CO., NV, 10/31/15: Report of an accidental shooting — Reporting party stated that while cleaning his firearm he accidentally shot himself in his hand. The individual received medical treatment at the E.R.
48. GARDEN CITY, ID, 10/31/15: For the second time in three years, an accidental gun discharge has injured someone at a gun show at Expo Idaho in Garden City. The accidental shooting occurred Saturday morning during the Lewis Clark Trader Gun Show. It happened at about 8:20 AM in the center bay of the Expo building — before the gun show started, Expo Idaho Director Bob Batista said. A 74-year-old gun vendor from Washington told investigators he was securing a Savage Arms B Mag .17-caliber bolt-action rifle with a plastic zip tie when the weapon discharged, an Ada County Sheriff’s official said. There was a shell in the rifle and he mistakenly fired it, according to Ada County Sheriff’s spokesman Patrick Orr. The bullet went through a cardboard box, two table covers and a metal cane, then struck the leg of the 51-year-old holding the cane and the leg of a 64-year-old man standing nearby. The victims were taken to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center for treatment. The injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. The gun show opened at 9 AM Saturday and went on as planned, Batista said. Orr said the vendor who accidentally discharged the gun fully cooperated with the investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and so far the vendor hasn’t been cited. Batista said the Expo Idaho requires gun show vendors to remove bolts or secure weapons’ triggers before a show starts. He said they prefer that be done off-site, but it isn’t prohibited to take those safety measures at Expo Idaho before the shows open. “Once you’re in the building, the gun should be getting tied, or [already] tied,” Batista said. “It’s the promoter’s responsibility to go around and check them.” A Lewis Clark Trader representative could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon. Batista estimated the show had 1,000-plus guns set up at about 100 tables. There are five to seven gun shows held at Expo Idaho each year. Another promoter, EE-DA-HOW Long Rifles Inc of Idaho, no longer does gun shows after an accidental shooting at the in 2013. A person attending the show had picked up a large-caliber handgun that was part of a vendor’s display. The person unintentionally fired the handgun, not realizing a live round had been left inside. The single round hit two other guns in the display, causing flying shrapnel to hit two bystanders. A 23-year-old Mountain Home man was struck in the eye. Shrapnel hit a second person in the arm. “[That] gun show put us out of business,” said Arnold Burr of EE-DA-HOW. “It cost us over $25,000. They said we had to come with a $5 million aggregate policy [at the next gun show]. Nobody would insure us. That put us out of business.” Batista said the Expo Idaho raised the liability insurance required by gun shows from $1 million to $5 million after the 2013 shooting. He said they also added security personnel. “We’re all anxious to figure out how we’re going to go forward and ensure this doesn’t happen again,” Batista said. “We’re going to do our best to try and figure out safer ways to do everything.”
49. CORTEZ, CO, 10/31/15: 12:17 AM. A woman reportedly shot herself in the foot with a .45 caliber semi automatic handgun after someone approached her front door on the 1200 block of Jackson Street. A second round reportedly passed through a wall and over a sleeping roommate. Admitting she was unfamiliar with the weapon, the woman was ticketed for prohibited use of a weapon and reckless endangerment. The woman reportedly shot herself in the same foot earlier this year
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