Man who sleeps with gun under pillow for safety shoots himself in his sleep

A 78-year-old Plant City, Florida man told police he had a bad dream and that when he woke up he discovered he had been shot.  The man, who police have not identified, sleeps with a loaded Smith & Wesson .357 handgun under his pillow for protection.  He unintentionally shot himself while sleeping, the bullet took off the tip of his finger.
Ohh shoot.

Homeowner shot with his own gun while confronting burglars

A McKinney, Texas homeowner is in critical condition in Parkland Memorial Hospital after being shot with his own gun while confronting burglars in his home. The victim, who has not been identified, told police he found three unidentified males in his house at 3:30 in the morning and confronted them with a handgun. The suspects began to struggle with the homeowner and the gun either unintentionally discharged or the suspects shot the homeowner with his own weapon. The victim was shot in the upper left torso. He was first transported to Medical Center in McKinney and later to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas for treatment. He was initially listed in serious condition but doctors have since changed his condition to critical.
Police do not currently have any suspects. They report that crime is relatively low in that area, with only one other robbery in the last year.
Ohh shoot.

2 1/2 year old boy gets hold of father's gun, shoots and kills mother

Troy Bailey, of Miramar, Florida called 911 seeking help. He told the dispatcher that his two-and-a-half year old son had grabbed his 9mm Glock semi-automatic handgun and shot his mother, 33-year-old Julia Bennett. "Oh God, I can't believe this," Bailey said. "He shot his mom. God in heaven, help me please." Julia died before emergency help arrived.
According to police reports, Bailey left the loaded handgun in reach of the child. It was also reported that Bailey has a concealed weapons permit. A judge has placed the boy in the care of his maternal aunts. Bailey is not allowed contact without state permission. The investigation into the shooting is on-going. Bailey has been questioned by police but has not been charged. At minimum, he could be charged with negligence for leaving the gun in the boy's reach.
Ohh shoot.

Father trying to fix pistol unintentionally shoots 11-year-old daughter in the head

Jesse Montanye was target practicing outside his home near Braham, Minnesota when his .22-calbier pistol jammed. He brought the gun inside to try and fix it and unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet hit his 11-year-old daughter, Maddy, in the head. Jesse was in the living room and Maddy was seated at the kitchen table when the gun discharged.
Maddy is in critical condition and is currently in a medically induced coma. Her grandmother tells reporters that Jesse is devastated.
Too sad.

9-year-old girl caught in crossfire outside neighborhood store

On Saturday afternoon a 9-year-old Birmingham, Alabama girl was leaving a neighborhood store with her father when they stepped in the middle of a fight. 32-year-old Jeffery Matthews was attempting to shoot another man but the bullet struck the little girl instead. She was hit in the side and taken to a local hospital where she is expected to recover from her injuries.
Matthews has been arrested and charged with attempted murder and assault. His mother has also been charged with hindering prosecution after Matthews was found hiding in her apartment.
Ohh shoot.

Quran-burning Florida preacher unintentionally fires gun in Michigan parking lot

59-year-old Terry Jones, the minister of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida was in Michigan trying to put together an anti-Muslim rally. Jones gained national recognition for threatening to burn the Quran on the anniversary of 9/11. Last month his church held a mock trial, declared the Muslim text guilty of crimes, and burned a copy of the holy book.
Jones was getting in the passenger side of his car after giving an interview at a Southfield, Michigan television studio, when his .40-caliber Taurus handgun unintentionally discharged. According to a police spokesperson, "Officers heard a gunshot, approached the vehicle, asked Mr. Jones is he was okay. He was, and they also observed he had a gun in his hand."
Both Jones and his driver had guns on them. They both have concealed weapons permits from Florida which are recognized in Michigan. When asked about the incident Jones told reporters that he had been up since 4:30 a.m. and firing his gun was "an accident."
Ohh shoot.

Guy with new handgun unintentionally shoots friend

18-year-old Michale Marin of Vero Beach, Florida was hanging out at his apartment on a Friday night with friends. He started telling them about his new 9mm handgun. He had the gun a few weeks, but hadn't fired it yet. Marin brought the gun out, showing off how it worked, passing it around. When he took the gun back, thinking the safety was on, he squeezed the trigger. The gun fired. The bullet hit his friend, passing through his abdomen and intestines. He is being treated at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center.
Marin was arrested and charged with misdemeanor culpable negligence and improper exhibition of a weapon. Bail was set at $2000.
Ohh shoot.

Soldier shoots wife while cleaning gun, makes up story about robbery to cover up

21-year-old Kyle Labrosse, an active-duty Army soldier stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, was cleaning his .45-caliber handgun, preparing to go to the shooting range, when he unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet hit his wife, passing through her breast, and then proceeded through the floor of the apartment and into the apartment below. Steven Brawn was sitting on his couch, watching tv when the bullet landed on a chair about six feet away. "It was pretty simultaneous, the sound and the bullet," Brawn said. "It had slowed down enough where I could kind of see it out of the corner of my eye."
Kyle's father called the police to report the shooting. When the police entered Kyle's apartment they found military camouflage clothing on the floor, a number of weapons in the living room and an expended .45 cartridge.
Fearing the accident would jeopardize his military career, Kyle and his wife had left the apartment before the police arrived and had called police and made up a story about being victims of an armed robbery.
Kyle's wife was treated at a hospital and released. Kyle was arrested and charged with third-degree assault.
"This is somebody who is trained in the use of weapons, how to handle weapons, how to manipulate weapons. Yet he does it in an unsafe manner," said police. "It's just a miracle that his wife wasn't shot in the head."
Ohh shoot.

Argument over cell phone ends when gun unintentionally fires during struggle, wounding two brothers

Two brothers, Pretson and Phillip Wilson, were visiting 60-year-old Darrell Laffoon at his home in Beaverton, Oregon. An argument over a cell phone started between the brothers. Laffoon decided to break up the fight by pulling out his 9mm handgun. A struggle over the gun ensued and the gun discharged. Both brothers were struck by the bullet. Preston was treated and released for a gunshot wound to his finger and face. Phillip remains hospitalized, in critical condition, with a gunshot wound to his head.
Laffoon was arrested and charged with first-dgree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Laffoon has a concealed weapons permit. Police said alcohol was likely a factor.
Ohh shoot.

6-year-old brings gun to school. Three injured when gun unintentionally discharges.

A 6-year-old kindergarten boy brought a loaded handgun with him to school in Houston, Texas. The gun fell out of the child's pocket on to the cafeteria floor and discharged. Three students were injured by the bullet and bullet fragments. The boy was wounded in the foot, another 6-year-old boy was wounded in the leg and a 5-year-old girl was wounded in the foot. The injuries are not considered life-threatening.
A 5-year-old girl who was sitting at the same table as the boy with the gun told reporters about hearing the gun go off. "I knew it was a gun because a gun goes 'pow'" she said. "I got really scared."
Police are trying to determine where the child got the gun.
Ohh shoot.

Man trying to return a handgun because it had no safety shoots self in hand

A 56-year-old Florida man was trying to return a Ruger 380 handgun to Ranger Firearms and Mercantile in Fort Walton Beach. He was concerned because the handgun did not have a safety. As he was attempting to demonstrate his concerns about the gun he unintentionally discharged the weapon. He was hit in the left hand. He was taken to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center for treatment.
Ohh shoot.

20-year-old woman shot and killed when friend mishandles gun

20-year-old Jayme Wray had gone to visit some friends at their Nashville, Tennessee apartment. 21-year-old Cody Hess had a loaded, unlocked 9mm handgun under a pillow on his bed. When he went to move the gun he unintentionally discharged the weapon. Jayme was shot in the back. By the time paramedics arrived, Jayme was dead.
According to the police investigation the was no evidence of alcohol or drug involvement. The case will be sent to the District Attorney for review.
Ohh shoot.

12-year-old girl finds loaded handgun in Wal-Mart bathroom

A 12-year-old girl found a loaded handgun on top of a toilet paper dispenser in the women's restroom at a Wal-Mart store in Winchester, Virginia. The girl gave the gun to her father, who is an employee at the store. He brought the .38-caliber Taurus revolver to the customer service desk. Fortunately, the gun was not discharged.
The owner of the gun, 49-year-old Tammy Renea Costello told police that her purse had tipped over while she was using the bathroom and the contents spilled over the floor. She put the contents back in her bag but forgot to take the gun. She did not notice that the handgun was missing until she was almost home. She went back to the store to look for it, but the store had already turned the gun over to the Sheriff.
Costello has been charged with one misdemeanor count of "recklessly leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm so as to endanger the life or limb or a child of less than 14 years old."
Ohh shoot.

Two injured when gun unintentionally shot at Tri-State Gun and Knife Show

30-year-old Joshua Wilkinson of Boonville, Indiana went to the Tri-State Gun and Knife Show at the Evansville National Guard Armory last weekend. He was looking for a holster for his .45-caliber handgun. Obeying the gun show rules before entering the arena with his handgun, he removed the ammunition and applied a zip tie to the trigger of the gun so it couldn't fire. After Wilkinson purchased a new holster he decided to remove the zip tie and reload the gun while still inside the show. When Wilkinson tried to put the gun into his new holster he unintentionally fired the gun.
When the bullet hit the concrete floor it fragmented injuring a 72-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy. Both of the injuries were minor and they were not taken to the hospital.
Police said that Wilkinson was in a hurry and wanted to get home, which is why he removed the zip tie inside the show. They also said Wilkinson had been drinking before entering the gun show and had a blood alcohol level of 0.05 percent. He has been charged with criminal recklessness.
Ohh shoot.

Man brings gun to party to show friends, unintentionally shoots self

A 22-year-old Gorham, New Hampshire man brought his handgun to a party at a friend's house to show it off. As he was showing the gun around he unintentionally discharged the firearm, shooting himself in the chest. The man was taken to the local hospital and then airlifted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
The police aren't releasing the name of the victim but they did say "it appears that alcohol was a factor."
Ohh shoot.

Man visiting nursing home drops gun, doesn't notice gun is gone

David Motel was visiting a friend at a nursing home in Johnstown, Pennsylvania when a .22-caliber pistol fell out of his pocket. Motel did not notice that the gun was missing. Six days later an employee of the nursing home spotted the gun and picked it up, thinking it was a toy gun. The pistol was loaded with five rounds and had no trigger guard. She unintentionally fired the gun, The bullet went into the wall.
Motel was charged with reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. He also lost his concealed weapons permit. The nursing home prohibits firearms and even though Motel had visited the facility six times he told police he never noticed signs on the door prohibiting guns.
Ohh shoot.

Soldier stationed in Afghanistan bemoans rash of accidental gunshot wounds

Doonesbury comic strip hosts a website called The Sandbox. It is a forum for service members currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The purpose is to focus on "the unclassified details of deployment - the everyday, the extraordinary, the wonderful, the messed-up, the absurd."
This week there is a post from Scott in Afghanistan titled Gun Safety 101. The post begins:

"The week has been notable for a rash of accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wounds by ANA troops. Three incidents in the past week, to feet, legs, and even the abdomen. Invariably they were just cleaning their weapon when it went off."

The number of unintentional gunshot injuries promoted Scott to offer the Forward Surgical Team's Gun Safety Tips which includes the advice:

Rule 1 - DON'T SHOOT YOURSELF
Rule 2 (Modified) - UNLESS YOU ARE IN A FIREFIGHT WITH THE ENEMY, DON'T SHOOT ANYONE ELSE

Ohh shoot.

4-year-old shot in road rage incident

Tammitha Williams was stopped at a red light in Atlanta, Georgia. When the light turned green and she didn't move fast enough the white SUV behind her became impatient and honked his horn. Tammitha honked back, and turn the corner. She told reporters, "the next thing I know, he's behind me, he's weaving back and forth in traffic like coming beside my car and I'm like, what's wrong with this man? He jumped back behind me and that's when I heard the gunshot."
The bullet went through the back of her mini van, through the backseat, through the car seat where her 4-year-old son Korda was sitting, and struck Korda in the buttocks. Doctors say Korda should make a full recovery.
"We are very lucky," said the local police. "We could just as easy be working a homicide case today. A matter of inches in any direction."
Ohh shoot.

Man sentenced for unintentional shooting that left 13-year-old paralyzed and unable to speak

Last Halloween, 22-year-old Greyler Williams was partying with some friends at a home in Buffalo, New York. They were passing around a handgun when Williams unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet passed through a wall and hit 13-year-old Jalisa Goodman in the neck. Jalisa has been in the hospital ever since the shooting.
According to her sister Jaline "doesn't speak. She's confined to a bed or a chair, she can't walk, she can't eat regular food, she's on a tube feed. She should be out enjoying herself running track, cheerleading, doing all the things that she used to do. We don't know if she's ever able to come home."
Williams pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in the shooting and this week was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Ohh shoot.

11-year-old cleaning handgun shoots 73-year-old man

73-year-old John Dove of Madison, North Carolina was at a creek near his home shooting a .22-caliber handgun with an 11-year-old boy (news accounts do not give the boy's name or relationship to Dove). The two returned home and Dove told the boy to clean the gun. After cleaning the gun, the boy reloaded it, at which point he unintentionally discharged the gun. Dove, who was standing in front of the gun, was shot in the abdomen. Dove's wife said her husband was in the intensive care unit at Moses Cone Hospital.
Ohh shoot.

Man told police he was shot during a struggle over gun, but he really shot himself

A 25-year-old Jefferson County, Missouri man told police he was on his way home when he saw a man lying in a ditch by the side of the road and stopped to help him. According to his story the man in the ditch pulled a gun and demanded money. The two men fought over the gun, which went off, shooting the man who had stopped to help in the hand.
However, the victim's story changed while being questioned by police. Finally, the man admitted he had shot himself in the hand while attempting to shoot a feral cat in his yard.
The man faces misdemeanor charges of filing a false police report.
Ohh shoot.

Owner of handgun sued in fatal unintentional shooting of 12-year-old

12-year-old Darius Tucker and his 14-year-old half-brother found three semi-automatic handguns belonging to their mother's boyfriend in her apartment in Newburg, Kentucky. The guns had been placed, loaded and unlocked, behind a lip on top of a 6-foot-tall entertainment center. The boys took the guns, two .25-caliber and one 9mm, down and each took a gun and began playing with them. Darius pointed his gun at his brother and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. Tragically, when the older brother aimed his gun at Darius the gun fired. Darius died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Darius' parents have filed suit against John O'Bryan and O'Bryan's homeowner insurance carrier, State Farm General Insurance Co. The lawsuit claims O'Bryan "improperly, carelessly and negligently stored his firearms and ammunition" and that he "created a dangerous condition by failing to follow safety precautions and warnings about storing weapons and ammunition in homes where children live."
Darius' mother, who still lives with O'Bryan, said she meant to file suit only against State Farm. But, as her attorney pointed out, O'Bryan has to be named because he is the insured person, but that State Farm would be responsible for paying damages.
Ohh shoot.

80-year-old man unintentionally shoots gun while practicing drawing his weapon

An 80-year-old Flushing, Michigan man unintentionally fired his handgun while practicing the motion of brandishing his gun and pulling the trigger. The man told police he keeps the gun in a safe in his closet and occasionally gets the gun out to practice drawing the weapon. He thought the 9mm handgun was unloaded but when he pulled the trigger the gun shot a window in his bedroom. He was so shaken up when he went to put the gun down he fired it again, hitting his bed.
Police took the handgun and a shotgun the man had for safe keeping. The district attorney is reviewing the incident to see if charges of reckless discharge of a firearm are warranted.
Ohh shoot.