We’re still way behind, but the week of March 6-12 included some very high-profile GunFAILs. First on the list: the accidental, fatal shooting of Lana Meisner, wife of Randy Meisner, a founding member of the Eagles. Two days later, the GunFAIL-watching world was rocked by the shooting of Facebook-famous gun rights advocate Jamie Gilt, by her 4-year-old son, who found a loose pistol in the back seat of the family pick-up and shot her in the back while she drove. (And so gave us our title story.) It was something of a banner week.
Strictly by the numbers, though, it was a fairly routine week. Twenty-one people accidentally shot themselves, sixteen minors were accidentally shot, and seven people were accidentally shot to death. Four people accidentally fired weapons into neighboring homes, four people accidentally fired guns they were cleaning, four people had accidents while target shooting, and three police officers accidentally discharged their weapons.
There were, of course, other remarkable GunFAIL events from the week. Someone in Champion, OH—for the second time in three years—accidentally hit a gas well pumping station while out target shooting. Local authorities would like to remind you that, yes, you can blow up the gas line if you hit it, so maybe don’t shoot towards it. Thanks. Downstate, in perhaps aptly-named Darwin, OH, a man practicing his “speed drawing” accidentally shot himself in the leg. No matter how fast you get, you still have to wait until your pistol is facing the target to fire.
Finally, in Ocala, FL, someone out at the gun range to fire an antique shotgun managed to accidentally shoot an entire family of five (plus another, non-related teenager). I think that may be a GunFAIL series record in terms of the number of relatedindividuals accidentally shot in a single discharge, though I believe the record for the total number of people injured in a single discharge belongs to another shotgun accident at a gun club we listed in GunFAIL XXI, which injured 10 people.
There are more than a few more stories listed below the fold that’ll raise your eyebrows, too.
- LOS ANGELES, CA, 3/06/15: The wife of Randy Meisner, a founding member of the Eagles, was fatally shot at a North Hollywood home Sunday when a rifle she was handling discharged, according to police. Lana Meisner was pronounced dead at the scene after officers responding to a report of a shooting arrived at 7 PM to find her suffering from a single gunshot wound, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a news release. Officers had also been called to the home in the 3700 block of Eureka Drive earlier in the day over a domestic violence incident. Police said Meisner was moving the rifle out of a closet. When she lifted the rifle, which was inside a case, another item within the case shifted and hit the trigger, causing the gun to discharge. The Associated Press reported that the 63-year-old had been shot in the head. "After a thorough investigation by Valley Bureau detective personnel and the Los Angeles (County) Coroner's Office, it was determined that Mrs. Meisner's death was accidental," the news release said. About an hour and a half before the shooting was reported, police said they received a call from a woman asking for help regarding a possibly intoxicated male. Officers took a domestic violence incident report and left the residence. It was unclear who the woman was or what happened at the home. Meisner, who played bass and left the band in 1977, was placed under court-mandated supervision last summer after allegedly threatening murder-suicide with an AK-47 assault rifle and pills, according to a New York Daily News report.
- LAS CRUCES, NM, 3/06/16: The sound of glass shattering echoed chillingly throughout Donald Porter’s home in the 5500 block of Patagonia Drive, off U.S. 70, last Sunday afternoon. It was after 5 PM, and Porter, a self-proclaimed “military brat” who has worked at White Sands Missile Range since 1990, was lying on a couch in his living room. His wife of 22 years, Amy, was in their bedroom watching TV. There was calm, followed by a “CRACK!” Startled, Porter jumped off the couch and looked around the room only to find one-half of his sliding glass door completely shattered, although still intact. “I was like what the heck,” he said last week, recounting the incident with his family. Bewildered, he thought a celestial object had fallen from the sky and crashed into the door. “I thought it was a meteorite,” he admitted. But that wasn’t the case. Although he did not suspect foul play, Porter nevertheless called authorities to report the incident. Before Las Cruces police arrived, Porter surveyed the damaged door more closely and was able to find a small hole where the unknown object entered the living room. He, however, was unable to find any evidence of a meteorite – or any other projectile-like object for that matter – in the immediate area. It only after Officer Keegan Arbogast arrived that a stray bullet was found in the most unfortunate of places: a child’s playpen, where Porter’s 1-year-old nephew, Michael, enjoys playing on most weekends. Arbogast had spotted a coin-sized hole in the netting on the side of the playpen that faced the sliding door. His eyes then zeroed-in on the bullet. “I picked up the round and noticed the 7.62 round was entirely intact,” Arbogast wrote in his incident report. “This led me to believe that some one had shot the round far in the desert and eventually lost speed and collided with Mr. Porter’s back sliding door.” Later in his report, Arbogast said he ruled out foul play and advised Porter that the bullet likely came from “people shooting their rifles out in the desert.” Arbogast also noted that fellow officers are frequently dispatched to the expansive desert area — immediately south of Porter’s neighborhood — because of gunshot reports. Still, police spokesman Dan Trujillo said, “It is very rare occurrence” for stray bullets to strike homes, let alone people, within city limits. Even so, such incidents are not unheard of, and the incident at Porter’s home is but one cautionary tale of the dangers shooting firearms aimlessly in open land. Last year, a stray bullet struck a roof on a home in the 5700 block of East Mesa Avenue, breaking through a bedroom ceiling before hitting a book on the floor, about 18 inches from where a mother and her 5-year-old were watching TV. And a little more than two years earlier, a woman attending a New Mexico State University football game at Aggie Memorial Stadium was struck in her left thigh by bullet that had been fired somewhere outside the stadium.
- RACINE, WI, 3/06/16: A 25-year-old man [has] sustained an accidental gunshot wound to the leg in the 1500 block of Flett Avenue on Sunday evening, according to Sgt. Tim Koetting of the Racine Police Department. Emergency personnel responded to the call at about 5:15 PM Sunday, and found that the victim had been shot while a nearby person was cleaning the weapon and unintentionally fired it, Koetting explained. He said the wounded man is expected to recover.
- CHAMPION, OH, 3/06/16: The Champion Fire Department is reminding residents to pay attention to what's behind their targets when practicing shooting. Officials were called to the north end of Downs Road on Sunday after they say residents accidentally shot a gas well regulator behind their property. The regulators are devices lower the pressure of gas before it is routed to its destination so the pressure won't damage pipes. Firefighters said there was an active leak when they arrived, but no one was hurt. The fire department said there could have been an explosion and that the situation could have been fatal. According to fire officials, this is the second incident in Champion in three years and there was one in Bristol two years ago.
- DARWIN, OH, 3/06/16: An accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound is under investigation in Meigs County. According to Meigs County Sheriff Keith Wood, his office received a call at 12:29 PM Sunday from Meigs County EMS. They told the sheriff’s office that a man, who has not been named as the case is still under investigation, was practicing target shooting and speed drawing on Gold Ridge Road off of State Route 681 near Darwin. Once on scene, Deputy Jimmy Riley learned that the man was practicing his speed drawing when he accidentally fired into his leg with a .40 caliber handgun. No more information on his condition is officially known at this time, Wood said.
- KIRKSVILLE, MO, 3/06/16: The Kirksville Police Department is conducting an administrative review after an officer accidentally discharged his weapon at the police station late Sunday night. No one was injured. Kirksville Police Chief Jim Hughes said the incident took place around 9:15 PM in the basement level of the KPD headquarters. The officer, who Hughes said would not be identified until after the review was complete, was performing a function check after cleaning his weapon. The officer had accidentally replaced the gun’s magazine before performing the check, leading to the gun discharging a single shot. Because the officer was adhering to the department’s safety protocol regarding function checks, the weapon was pointed toward the floor and the firing did not result in any injuries, Hughes said. The shot caused minor damage to a table. Hughes described the officer as a veteran of law enforcement with no previous safety issues. He also noted that this is the first such incident of its kind he is aware of in his 13 years with the department. “It’s a good reminder that no matter how competent, how familiar, how well trained you are, that it can happen with anybody,” Hughes said. “It was a mistake. No one was hurt, it happened inside the building and we take it very seriously, which is the reason behind the review.” Hughes said the officer could face disciplinary action as a result of the accident. The officer has not been suspended and is able to continue with his duties. The review will also examine if there are any training or equipment issues the police department should address. Hughes said the department will consider purchasing a loading tube, which is a specialized safety device to be used during function checks. The Kirksville Police Department published the event in its press book as an accidental discharge. The categorization is similar to other such accidental gun firings in the city over recent years.
- LAUREL, MS, 3/06/16: The person arrested in connection with the weekend shooting death of a teenager will not face any charges, Jasper County investigators said. Capt. Robert Morris told WDAM-TV on Tuesday that the teen's death has been ruled accidental. The teenager, who was taken into custody Monday, has since been released. Authorities were called to a mobile home in the Moss Community after a 911 call came in around 8:45 PM Sunday. Morris said the incident happened during a party. Morris said there was no altercation at the party, and about eight people were in attendance. Authorities aren't releasing the names of the victim, or the teenager who was questioned.
- REEDS CROSSROADS, NC, 3/06/16: A man remained hospitalized Thursday after Davidson County deputies say he accidentally shot himself Sunday in Reeds. Carrell Williams, 47, was listed in good condition Thursday afternoon at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, a hospital spokeswoman said. Williams was transported by AirCare on Sunday to WFBMC after the incident on Waitman Road. The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office responded to 801 Waitman Road at 4:09 PM. Waitman Road is near Old U.S. Highway 64 West and N.C. Highway 150 South. DCSO Patrol Capt. Kevin Johnson said Williams apparently was taking his handgun out of his holster because he had been carrying it and accidentally shot himself. “He must have had his finger on the trigger when he was taking it out and the gun went off,” the captain said. The bullet wound was on the left side of Williams’ abdomen, Johnson said. The captain explained the man’s injuries were being considered nonlife-threatening. Deputies were treating the incident as an accidental shooting, Johnson said. Responding agencies were AirCare from Wake Forest Baptist Health, Davidson County EMS, A-RC-H Fire Department, Davidson County Rescue Squad and the sheriff’s office.
- PASCO, WA, 3/06/16: Police say an Idaho man shot himself and claimed the injury was from a robbery, leading them on a fruitless chase. The Tri-City Herald reports that police in Pasco say the 53-year-old man is being treated for a gunshot wound on his left palm. Sgt. Brad Gregory says the injury was not life-threatening but caused extensive damage. Gregory says the man went to an emergency room around midnight Sunday and said he was shot by two men trying to rob him. Police were unable to find any evidence of that. Gregory says the man eventually admitted that he accidentally shot himself when he picked up a semi-automatic gun at his relatives’ house and it went off. The police report did not explain why he made the robbery up.
- MORGANTOWN, WV, 3/07/16: A boy rushed to Ruby Memorial Hospital, accidentally shot in the head at a residence in Monongalia County. Deputies were dispatched to a home on Church Hill Drive on Monday to investigate a reported shooting. Once they arrived they found the juvenile male shot in the head. Deputies arrested Christopher Smith, 21, of Morgantown has been charged with wanton endangerment. He was arraigned Monday morning in Monongalia County Magistrate Court. His bail was set at $250,000. UPDATE: According to the Monongalia County Sheriffs Department a Morgantown teenager who was shot on Monday has died. 16 year old Damon Sochko died Wednesday after being shot in the head back on Monday while Christopher Smith was handling the gun. Smith is charged with wanton endangerment, but the charges against him could be changing.
- SACRAMENTO, CA, 3/07/16: A toddler shot herself at a Sacramento County home Monday afternoon, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department said. The 2-year-old girl is listed in critical condition at the hospital. The incident occurred at a home in the 7600 block of Countryfield Drive. Two adults, including the child’s mother, were at home at the time of the shooting, the sheriff’s department said. The toddler was the only child home at the time of the shooting. No other information was released.
- GREENSBURG, IN, 3/07/16: A local woman was rushed to the hospital and later airlifted for further treatment after she was accidentally shot by a neighbor Monday evening, police said. Greensburg Chief of Police Brendan Bridges said a 46-year-old woman was shot in the hip when a neighbor’s gun accidentally discharged and passed through a wall in the 500 block of W. First Street. Bridges said police responded at approximately 5:30 PM Monday and found the woman conscious and alert but bleeding. She was transported by ambulance to Decatur County Memorial Hospital and airlifted to St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis for further treatment. Bridges said she was out of surgery and resting Tuesday morning. Her injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Police have not released the name of the victim or the gun owner as the incident is still under investigation. The woman was sitting on a couch in her home, watching TV when she was shot, the police chief said. Bridges said the neighbor told investigators he was a cleaning a 9 millimeter handgun when it accidentally discharged. He was not aware that it was loaded. Bridges said criminal charges are possible in the case and that investigators will present their information to prosecutors when the investigation is completed. The police chief said the incident shows the importance of gun safety. “He did not think it was loaded when he was cleaning [the gun],” the chief said. “Always treat your firearm as though it is loaded. You want to be very careful.” Bridges spoke with Conservation Officer Andy Hagerty who said gun safety classes are available locally. The police chief noted he is also working on a similar class to be conducted by local officers. He said the classes can help gun owners familiarize themselves with their firearms, which is a vital component of responsible gun ownership. Members of the Decatur County Sheriff's Department and Indiana State Police assisted at the scene of the shooting. The Daily News will have more information on this incident as it becomes available.
- SEDRO-WOOLLEY, WA, 3/07/16: A 23-year-old man was treated Monday at PeaceHealth United General Medical Center after he unintentionally shot himself in the leg, according to the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office. The incident was reported to law enforcement about 4:30 PM from a residence in the 24000 block of Richards Road, near Sedro-Woolley. A Sheriff’s Office spokesman said the shooting apparently happened when the man was trying to unload his gun. No one else was injured, and no criminal charges are expected.
- LARGO, FL, 3/08/16: The Largo Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon on Starkey Road. According to the agency, it received a call just after 1 PM from a 16-year-old boy who said he had shot himself in the left hand. Officers and emergency crews responded to the 900 block of Starkey Road and transported the teen to an area hospital for treatment. The wound, police wrote in an email to media, is not life threatening. While the case remains under active investigation, authorities say the incident is believed to be accidental at this time. No further details, including the teen’s name, are being released.
- PALATKA, FL, 3/08/16: A 31-year-old woman is in stable condition after she was shot by her 4-year-old son while driving her truck, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. A deputy on patrol just after 3 p.m. Tuesday on State Road 20 at Rowland Avenue saw a truck towing a horse trailer that was stopped and looked "awkward." The woman behind the wheel, later identified as Jamie Gilt, of Jacksonville, told the deputy that she had been shot while driving. The deputy said Gilt's son was crying uncontrollably. The deputy provided first aid to Gilt until Putnam County paramedics arrived and took her to UF Health in Gainesville, where she was reported in stable condition. "Her young 4-year-old son came into possession of a handgun inside the vehicle and accidentally shot her through the driver's seat," Capt. Joseph Wells said. The bullet struck Gilt in the back. Deputies said it was a handgun, but they didn't immediately know the make or model. The child was with his grandmother while deputies tried to reach the father, who was at work. The Sheriff's Office has notified the Department of Children and Families. Deputies are investigating how the child was able to get hold of the gun and whether any criminal charges will be filed. "Those questions center around how is the fire arm secured? Where was it carried in the vehicle? And exactly how did the young boy come in possession of the firearm?" Wells said. Family members told detectives that Gilt was traveling to a family member’s home in Putnam County to pick up a horse when the incident occurred.
- ROANOKE, VA, 3/08/16: The Roanoke City Police Department says there was an accidental shooting that happened Tuesday morning. Around 11:47 AM in the 1900 block of Wise, a man and a woman were both injured and taken to the hospital. Both were conscious when officers got there. No charges have been filed. Police say it appears to be an accidental discharge of the firearm. Police are still investigating.
- BROOKLYN, NY, 3/08/16: An NYPD detective was accidentally shot by his partner during a drug arrest in Bushwick on Tuesday evening. The officers were trying to arrest three men who’d just finished a heroin deal, police said. The detective — identified by the Daily News as 37-year-old Jon Gladstone — was hit in the left shoulder and taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where he’s in stable condition. Mayor de Blasio said last night that Gladstone was "in good spirits and very alert."Gladstone and his sergeant were in plainclothes when they approached a vehicle, one officer on each side, and identified themselves as police during what cops say was a routine buy-bust operation in which an undercover officer had bought $80 worth of “American Dream” heroin. Gladstone and his partner had used their car to block the alleged drug dealers’ minivan from the front, but the driver backed up, rammed a second police car, and pulled away. Gladstone had reached into the van to make the arrest, and (as First Deputy Commissioner Ben Tucker told reporters) when the van started moving, the driver tried to hit Gladstone's partner; that's when the shooting began. The officers fired a total of four shots. Tucker said that the detective "was hit in the shoulder apparently by the shot that came from his colleague." The driver of the car, identified by the Daily News as 45-year-old Oscar Vera, was also shot three times in the leg and wrist. He was arrested, as was the passenger in the vehicle, 51-year-old Geraldo Rodriguez. A third man, who was outside the car, escaped. The driver is in stable condition at Bellevue. Gladstone is the sixth officer to be shot in the line of duty this year, and the third to be hit in a likely friendly-fire incident.
- NEW ROADS, LA, 3/08/16: A City of New Roads Police officer is on administrative leave tonight after he accidentally discharged his weapon after responding to a scene in his personal vehicle. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, and tonight questions are being raised about the way the City of New Roads handled the investigation. Details on exactly what transpired are murky since police are investigating the situation themselves. But, one thing is certain. Some believe the New Roads Police Department should have called an outside agency to investigate the incident. "It appears to be a cover-up," Attorney Jerry D'Aquila said. That's how New Roads Attorney Jerry D'Aquila describes what happened in the city limits this week involving a 15-year-old boy. D'Aquila is representing the boy's family. "Two juvenile males are pointing bb guns at people by Rosenwald School," 911 police radio traffic stated on the day of the incident. "Highway 10 and St. Jude, negligent discharge," you can hear the officer who fired his weapon say. Denise Johnson claims her 15-year-old son, Dequan Johnson is lucky to be alive today, after coming into contact with that off duty officer. "He tried to kill him," Johnson said. "That's what he wanted to do." New Roads Police identified the officer involved as Matt Donnin. He's been with the department for about a year, and is part-time. The way the department handled the investigation into the shooting is concerning to those in the legal community, and the family. After the shooting was reported, the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff's Office says when they showed up, the scene had already been dismantled, and there was nothing to investigate. The mother watched as New Roads Police took everything down, and no outside agency was called to investigate. "It smells like a cover-up when that happens," D'Aquila said. "The good people of New Roads, you come here all the time, we have a nice community, why would the police department want to cover up something? They should be the first one that want it investigated out in the open, so the public knows what happened." "They should have left the crime scene the way it was, but they tried to hurry up and cover up and thought I wasn't going to do anything about it...that's why," Johnson said. Police Chief Kevin McDonald was unavailable for an on camera interview. He did say the police officer fired the shot through the window of his personal car. He's appointed by New Roads Mayor Robert Myer. "Don't put me on camera," Myer said. We caught up with Myer as he was leaving city hall. Myer told me he was aware of this situation. "We're going to follow whatever state requirements are," Myer said.When asked why three days passed and another outside agency was called to come in, Myer said, "I can't comment on something I don't know about." Tonight, the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff's Office says it has nothing to investigate since the city dismantled the scene. Many are wondering how fair the investigation will be since the city of New Roads is investigating itself. "Any investigation going to be conducted should have been done by an independent police organization. like State Police," D'Aquila said. "They took it on themselves to conduct their own investigation. I don't' know who orchestrated it." Last year, we showed you in another investigation nearly half of the New Roads Police Department is not Post Certified with weapons training. We checked on the post certification of Officer Donnin. But, since state offices were closed due to the weather today, we couldn't get that information for this story." The 15-year-old who was carrying the bb gun was taken to a juvenile detention center. He was charged with criminal mischief and possession of a firearm. It's unclear how long the officer will be on leave.
- SANDUSKY, OH, 3/08/16: The mother of a 7-year-old boy who accidentally shot himself last week is facing criminal charges for the incident. Danielle Ortiz, 30, of the 1500 block of Columbus Ave., was charged with three first-degree misdemeanor counts of child endangering. She turned herself in on the charges last week, and is now awaiting a June court date, according to Sandusky Municipal Court records. On the evening of March 8, Sandusky police and fire were called to Ortiz and her husband’s Columbus Avenue home after their 7-year-old boy shot himself in the leg. The child had been playing video games in his parents’ room, along with an 8-year-old sibling and 2-year-old sibling, according to assistant Sandusky police Chief Phil Frost. During that time, the 7-year-old went into his parents’ top dresser drawer, removed a 357 Magnum revolver, and fired the weapon. The bullet grazed his leg, and he was rushed to the hospital, but has since been released. Danielle Ortiz and her mother-in-law were the only adults home at the time, Frost said. Ortiz’s husband later told police his gun had been secured in the dresser, but he eventually agreed that was not the case, according to a police report. Sandusky police conferred with the prosecutor’s office to determine if charges were necessary, and on Thursday, Sandusky city prosecutor Lynne Gast-King authorized the counts against Ortiz — one for each of the children left unattended around the gun. Ortiz appeared in court Friday morning, and entered an initial plea of not guilty, records stated.
- SOMERSET, KY, 3/09/16: One of Somerset’s most prominent businessmen is in critical condition after an apparent accidental shooting. Ward Correll, who built Cumberland Lake Shell into a regional fuel industry power, was being treated at the University of Kentucky Medical Center as of late Wednesday morning. Correll’s family sent a written statement to the Commonwealth Journal saying that Correll was “in his home when there was an accidental gun discharge. He called for help.” Correll was taken to Lake Cumberland Regional Medical Center, and later airlifted to UK in Lexington. “The Correll family would appreciate all prayers,” said the family. A UK spokesperson confirmed that Correll was in critical condition at around 11 AM. Pulaski County Sheriff Greg Speck confirmed the incident. The Commonwealth Journal is working on getting more details from law enforcement.MORE: The Pulaski County Sheriff says that EMS responded to the report of an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday morning. EMS says that Ward Correll was found inside his home with a gunshot wound in his abdomen. He was treated at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital before being transported to a UK Hospital. The Sheriff says Correll called a family member or friend who called 911.UPDATE: Ward Correll succumbed late Thursday evening at the University of Kentucky Hospital to injuries from an accidental gunshot wound sustained at his home during the early morning hours of March 9. He was 88.
- NORTHLAKE, IL, 3/09/16: An employee at a Northlake grocery store was taken to the hospital last week after being accidentally shot by his manager, according to police. Luis Hernandez, 36, has been an employee at Farmer's Best Market, 23 W. North Ave., for 11 years and was promoted to manager about five months ago. Hernandez was in the grocery store's security office on March 9 when he said he saw a firearm sitting on a desk that belongs to another store manager who is also a licensed security guard. When Hernandez touched the gun he accidentally fired a bullet that traveled through the wall of the security office and into the front end of the store, striking a 41-year-old employee in the ankle while he was bagging groceries, police said. "When I went to move it I thought the safety was still on. I didn't know it would go off like that," said Hernandez. "I didn't want that to happen."
- WEST FARGO, ND, 3/09/16: People in a West Fargo apartment building had a scare as rifle bullets went through the buildings walls. It happened Wednesday around four at 745 31st avenue east. Police say the bullets went through two walls before hitting a brick wall. The man who fired the gun says he thought it was empty. He was not arrested, but prosecutors are reviewing the case for charges. No one was injured.
- ANTIOCH, CA, 3/09/16: On March 9 around 4:00 PM, Antioch Police responded to a report of a gunshot coming from a home in the 5200 block of Steven Stroud Drive. Officers arrived on scene and found the front door open at 5228. A safety sweep was conducted inside of the residence and a firearm was found lying on the living room floor. 18 year old Malik Edwards was eventually contacted via the phone and admitted to playing with his “friend’s” gun and accidentally fired a round off inside of the house. The round traveled through a wall and struck a window at a neighbor’s house. No one was injured and Edwards refused to return to the house out of fear of being arrested. The gun was collected as evidence.
- PASCO, WA, 3/10/16: For the second time in a week, Pasco police were left searching for a crime scene that didn’t exist because a man lied about the cause of his accidental shooting. Jorge Zavala-Caro, 33, of Kennewick, may face charges of false reporting and unlawful possession of a firearm for the early Thursday incident. Officers were called to Lourdes Medical Center at 2:06 AM after Zavala-Caro showed up at the Pasco hospital with a gunshot wound to his right wrist. The .22-caliber bullet was lodged in his arm, but it was not a life-threatening injury. Zavala-Caro told officers that he was walking out of the Albertson’s store with his girlfriend when someone shot at him, said Sgt. Scott Warren. Police went to the 20th Avenue grocery store and couldn’t find any evidence in the parking lot to match Zavala-Caro’s story. Both a store clerk and a person sleeping in a truck said they had not heard a gunshot, Warren said. Officers returned to the hospital and asked Zavala-Caro about his story. He then said he’d been sitting in their car with his right arm hanging out the open window when he was hit, Warren said. Police did not find any bullet holes in the car. Officers noted that Zavala-Caro had powder burns near his hand, which means the barrel of the gun was touching him when it fired. “He was confronted about all the inconsistencies of his story and he decided to come clean about what happened,” Warren told the Herald. Zavala-Caro said they’d been out with friends, he was in the passenger seat, and at some point he reached into the glove box to get the pistol and accidentally pulled the trigger. He claimed that he freaked out and threw the gun out the car’s window, Warren said. Officers thoroughly searched the street and weren’t able to locate it. Warren said they’re not sure if Zavala-Caro was being honest about that detail. Last Sunday, an Idaho man was visiting relatives in Pasco when he picked up a gun on a table and it went off. The gunshot wound to his left palm, which also affected his index finger, caused extensive damage and required treatment at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Robert Garcia Garcia, 53, initially told police he had been walking to a store when two men approached him, demanded money and shot him. Warren advises people to “tell the truth, treat all guns like they’re loaded, and never point a gun at something you’re not willing to shoot.”
- BEATRICE, NE, 3/10/16: Beatrice police responded to a report that a male had been shot and was bleeding at the 1400 block of Jefferson Street a little after 4 AM March 10. Upon arriving at the location, officers located Paul Schexnaydre, 33, of Denham Springs, La., with a gunshot wound to his leg, according to a press release from the police department. Officers recovered a .40 caliber handgun from the scene. Further investigation indicated that the victim had accidentally discharged the firearm and inflicted the wound himself, the press release states. The victim was transported by Beatrice Fire and Rescue to Bryan LGH West for treatment.
- CHICAGO, IL, 3/10/16: A 15-year-old boy was accidentally shot in his face in Auburn Gresham Thursday morning, [Chicago Police spokesman, Officer Jose] Estrada said. Police could not say if the boy shot himself.
- CHEYENNE, WY, 3/10/16: A 24-year-old Cheyenne man accidentally shot his infant son Thursday in their home, according to the Cheyenne Police Department. Police responded about 9:30 PM to a home at 5000 Ogallala Place. The 9-month-old child was taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his leg. Police say his father, Joshua Karban, was manipulating the slide of his pistol when the gun went off. The bullet traveled through the wall and into the next room, where his son was sleeping. The police department is still investigating the incident, and the Albany County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case.
- CAMP VERDE, AZ, 3/11/16: A 74-year-old male is being transported to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment after receiving a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the right thigh, according to Commander Jacqui MacConnell of the Camp Verde Marshal's Office. The incident was reported just before 1 PM on March 11 at the Verde View Senior Apartments, 377 S. SR 260, Camp Verde. MacConnell states that the individual was exiting a vehicle when an unholstered gun in his pocket accidentally discharged. The victim was able to talk to emergency responders upon arrival, according to MacConnell. MacConnell reminded those lawfully carrying handguns to properly holster their weapons.
- MADISON, TN, 3/11/16: A man accidentally shot himself early Friday evening while he was cleaning his gun. It happened in the 300 block of McArthur Drive off Anderson Lane in Madison.
- CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH, 3/11/16: A man was driving his car at 10 PM March 11 and speaking on his cell phone with his girlfriend. As he spoke, he attempted to remove a loaded magazine from his handgun and accidentally shot himself in the heel of his foot. The man managed to pick up his girlfriend on Euclid Avenue at Taylor Road, then drive to the East Cleveland police station. East Cleveland police had the man transferred to University Hospital where he met with Cleveland Heights police officers. The gun was found not to be a stolen weapon, but police are investigating the matter. The man was cited for discharging a firearm within city limits.
- GARY, IN, 3/11/16: A 54-year-old Gary woman accidentally shot her brother's friend after the friend, who had been drinking, mistakenly walked into her bedroom, police said. The friend — a 48-year-old Gary man — suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder but did not want to press charges, Gary police Lt. Thomas Pawlak said. Police responded to the home in the 1300 block of Rutledge Street about 11 PM Friday. The woman's 56-year-old brother, who lives in the home, and his friend were drinking and the friend said he was going to the bathroom, Pawlak said. The woman awoke, saw a figure in her bedroom, got scared and fired a .22-caliber gun, he said.
- BAY SHORE, NY, 3/11/16: A man is recovering at Southside Hospital after Suffolk County police said they found him with a gunshot wound in Bay Shore on Friday. A police spokesman said officers saw the man in a vehicle on Union Boulevard in Bay Shore about 5:25 PM. The man appeared to have shot himself in the leg, the spokesman said.
- NORCROSS, GA, 3/11/16: An 11-year-old boy who accidentally killed himself Friday while playing with a gun was identified as Alan Martinez Monday morning. Alan, originally thought to be 12-years-old, was a student at Summerour Middle School in Norcross, Gwinnett police Cpl. Michele Pihera said. The gun went off as the boy played with the firearm in a Gwinnett garage in the 4900 block of Appaloosa Trail. Another 9-year-old boy was also in the garage at the time of the shooting. Alan’s mother, who police don’t expect to charge, was inside the home near Norcross.“This is a very sad and unfortunate reminder for gun owners to ensure that your guns are locked in a place that children cannot access,” Gwinnett police Cpl. Deon Washington said. The incident is the latest in a series of recent accidental gun incidents involving children. A 16-year-old girl in Lawrenceville was arrested in February on suspicion of accidentally shooting and killing a 19-year-old man.In January, a 17-year-old was killed by a 16-year-old in an accidental shooting at an apartment complex in DeKalb County. Separately, a child accidentally shot a 2-year-old girl in LaGrange. A 13-year-old boy accidentally shot his motherin the neck in their home near College Park in December. And in November, police say a 6-year-old found a loaded gun tucked between cushions of a sofain her family’s southeast Atlanta apartment and ended up shooting herself in the head. Separately, a 2-year-old boy was killed in Jackson while playing with his twin brother in what appeared to be an accidental shooting.
- LAWRENCEVILLE, GA, 3/12/16: Police on Thursday said they now know who shot a 6-year-old boy in the chest as he rode his bicycle in Gwinnett County last month.It was another child, Gwinnett police Cpl. Michele Pihera said. “After an extensive investigation,” she said, “the lead detective has determined that the shooting was accidental and occurred between the victim and his friend. [The detective] hasn’t yet determined if criminal charges will be filed due to the ages of the parties involved.” Ni-Shawn Moore was riding his bicycle in front of a home on Caboose Court March 12 when he was shot, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. Police initially thought Ni-Shawn was shot with a BB gun, according to a police report. It wasn’t until he was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center that a hospital staff member told police the boy was instead shot with a .22-caliber weapon, was in critical condition and needed to be flown to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. Ni-Shawn was discharged from Children’s Healthcare days later, Pihera said. Police released no details about Ni-Shawn’s friend.
- CLARKSVILLE, NY, 3/12/16: The Clarkstown Police Department report that on April 7, 2016, the Clarkstown Detective Bureau arrested Darique Burke for his involvement in the shooting of a male victim that occurred on March 12, 2016, in Central Nyack. Police said their investigation revealed that it appears Darique Burke accidentally shot a male victim due to the mishandling of the firearm he had in his possession. There does not appear to be any signs of a dispute that initiated the shooting, said police. The firearm used in the shooting has not been recovered at this time. Burke was arrested and processed at police headquarters. He was charged with assault 2nd (felony) and criminal possession of a weapon (misdemeanor). He was arraigned at Clarkstown Justice Court and was remanded to the Rockland County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
- MUNCIE, IN, 3/12/16: Delaware County sheriff's deputies on Saturday investigated what was believed to have been an accidental shooting east of Muncie. Emergency dispatchers were notified of the shooting, by personnel at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital's emergency department, at 10:06 AM after the victim went to the hospital for treatment. The wound, reportedly to the victim's ear, was not life-threatening. Deputies later went to a home in the 300 block of North Truitt Road, where the shooting had apparently taken place. Deputy Joe Krupa, public information officer for the sheriff's department, said the victim apparently accidentally discharged a gun in a bedroom on Friday night, and at first tried to treat the injury at home before deciding to seek hospital care.
- OCALA, FL, 3/12/16: A family of five and another teenager were hurt after an accidental shooting Saturday at an Ocala shooting range, the Marion County Sheriff's Office said. It happened at 1:30 PM Saturday at the Forest Road 88 Shooting Range on Northeast 31st Street. Deputies said a 21-year-old man was loading an antique shotgun when it accidentally discharged into the concrete floor. The shotgun pellets ricocheted and hit six people. Deputies said a family of five were hit -- two men and three children ages 8, 10 and 14. A 15-year-old child who is not related to the family was also hit, deputies said. They were all taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center with minor non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies said there were no charges.
- PARIS, TX, 3/12/16: A Paris High School senior is dead after being shot Saturday. Paris Police Chief Bob Hundley says it happened at an apartment on Stone Avenue. Hundley says preliminary reports show 18-year-old Raven Dowd accidentally shot herself in the chest. She was rushed to Paris Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. Hundley says the shooting is still under investigation. A candlelight vigil will be held Thursday outside of Paris High School.
- SAN ANTONIO, TX, 3/12/16: A man accidentally shot himself in the leg Saturday morning while showing off his handgun to friends on the Southwest Side. San Antonio Police responded to what was believed to be a drive-by shooting at about 10:45 AM Saturday in the 2900 block of Jane Ellen Street. SAPD Sgt. Earl Tovar said the victim was inside a vehicle with at least two other people when the gun discharged, the round hit the man in his left ankle. He was transported with minor injuries to University Hospital. Police are working to determine if the gun is indeed the victim's, but no charges are being filed at this time, Tovar said. "Just because you take the clip out, there's still a round in the chamber," Tovar said, warning of the dangers of handling a firearm.
- PHILADELPHIA, PA, 3/12/16: Authorities say a janitor has been arrested in connection with a pilot's handgun that officials say was apparently taken from a restroom at Philadelphia International Airport, prompting delay of some flights.Officials said the pilot told police just after 9 AM Saturday that he was in the men's room on the secure side of terminal B when he left his bag unattended, and the pouch containing his weapon was gone when he came back. Police said the weapon was later recovered from a locked custodial closet to which only airport employees have keys. Authorities said the janitor was the only airport employee seen on surveillance video entering the restroom while the bag was unattended. Officials said he was arrested for investigation of theft and other charges.
- MOUNT CARAMEL, PA, 3/12/16: Last week’s accidental shooting in the borough that injured two people has resulted in multiple charges being filed against both victims. Police found multiple weapons, including rifles and a shotgun, when they responded to the shooting at 1:11 PM March 12 at the residence of 21-year-old Stephanie Marie Neidig, of 418 E. Third St., which contained a large amount of trash and cat urine and feces. The couple’s 5-month-old daughter, Neidig’s 15-year-old sister and two other males were present when the shooting occurred. Neidig and her boyfriend, Thomas Sheldon Kowaleski, 21, of 12 Lamplight Acres,Kulpmont, who were both shot and injured in the incident, are charged by Cpl. David Donkochik with two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of endangering the welfare of children. Kowaleski also is charged with recklessly endangering another person. Police said Kowaleski was showing a .40-caliber Springfield XD pistol to Steven Kaszmetskie when the weapon accidentally discharged in the front living room. A bullet traveled through Kowaleski’s hand and grazed two of Neidig’s fingers before passing through her leg. They were both transported by ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, where they were admitted before later being discharged. Kowaleski told police he placed a loaded magazine in the semi-automatic pistol and began attempting to field strip it without realizing he still had the magazine in the gun. He said he pulled the trigger and the gun fired into his left hand before the bullet passed into Neidig’s hand and thigh. In addition to spotting a large pool of blood on the floor upon entering the home, Donkochik and Police Chief Todd Owens observed long guns in the front room and a shotgun, two .22-caliber rifles, a stainless steel Springfield Armory ammunition magazine and hollow point ammunition in the magazine. A spent cartridge casing that appeared to be .40-caliber was found on the table. Police said there were multiple bags of trash on the side porch of the house and tacks were sticking out on the steps leading upstairs. In a second-story bedroom, police discovered several bottles, cans, food containers, globs of chew tobacco and pieces of food on furniture and the floor and inside a baby crib. Police said there also was a trash can containing used food and other household trash that had a very foul odor. Lying on the floor next to the crib was a 325-pack of .22-caliber ammunition. Through the investigation, police learned that Kowaleski kept a loaded handgun underneath the mattress on his bed. The second floor also contained cat urine and feces and an overwhelming foul odor, police said. While walking through the home, Donkochik said he was bitten on the legs by fleas or bugs. He said there were also scattered bits of dog feces on the first and second floors. The corporal said a dog found inside a small cat carrier in a bedroom had to be removed from the home and given to a relative for care. Northumberland County Children and Youth Services took custody of the children until the home can be cleaned. In addition to both defendants, the children and Kaszmetskie, Chad Lytle also was in the home at the time of the shooting, police said.
- FORKS TOWNSHIP, SULLIVAN CO., PA, 3/12/16: State police say a teen was shot while target shooting in Sullivan County. Troopers say a 14-year-old boy was target shooting with an 18-year-old man around 4:30 PM Saturday along Pleasant Valley Road near Dushore. The 14 year old was shot. The victim was taken to the hospital. There is no word on the boy’s condition. State police are investigating the shooting.
- MAHASKA CO., IA, 3/12/16: On March 12th, 2016, the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to 1593 290th Street rural Mahaska County in reference to a gunshot wound. When officers arrived they discovered a 13 year old male with a gunshot wound. Mahaska County Sheriffs Office investigated this incident and determined that this was an accidental shooting and that he succumbed to his injury.
- BATTLE CREEK, MI, 3/12/16: A 26-year-old Battle Creek woman was treated for an accidental gunshot wound to her leg after a handgun she was cleaning discharged. Battle Creek police reported the shooting at 6:58 PM March 12 but the report was completed and released Friday. The shooting occurred in the 200 block of Lynwood Drive. The woman told officers she was lying on her bed cleaning the Glock pistol and a bullet still in the chamber fired, hitting her in the left thigh. Police said the woman is paralyzed below the chest and did not feel any pain. She called to others in the house and was taken to Bronson Battle Creek for treatment of the wound. Officers said the gun was registered to the woman and she owns several weapons and performs her own maintenance.
- BONNEY LAKE, WA, 3/12/16: Officers were called March 12 to a report of an accidental gun discharge. The reporting party told officers he was cleaning his gun and accidentally pulled the trigger before completely clearing the gun. The bullet went through a love seat in the living room and into the floor. Officers went below to ask neighbors if there was any damage to the ceiling but did not find any. The reporting party asked officers to take gun and another as they were no longer wanted.
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