Attorney unintentionally shoots himself while cleaning gun

Guy Dotson, Jr., of Murfreesboro, Tennessee was cleaning his handgun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon. The bullet struck the right side of his abdomen and exited his middle back.
Dotson was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he remains in critical condition.
Dotson is an attorney whose areas of practice include criminal defense, personal injury, worker's compensation, and family law. He also serves as a municipal judge for La Vergne, TN. He was appointed city judge in 1994.

Man unintentionally shoots and kills 15-year-old neighbor

55-year-old Robert Furey, of Wendell, North Carolina, called 911 and told the dispatcher he had shot a teen who had entered his home. Furey said he shot the boy with a high powered rifle as the teen walked into his home through the open front door. He said he didn't know who was coming inside when he fired.
The teen turned out to be his neighbor, 15-year-old Nick Exley.
"I've known him since he was a little child," Furley told the dispatcher. "Oh, I cannot believe this. I just killed my little buddy."
Furey later told police the gun went off when he was showing it to Nick. Furey has been charged with voluntary manslaughter and is due in court January 10th.

Two years later, teen still recovering from unintentional shooting

On Halloween, 2010, then 16-year-old Tucker Karrh, of Amarillo, Texas, was hunting on his father's ranch. Tucker and his friends were preparing to leave. Tucker was cleaning his .243-caliber Remington Model 770 rifle when he unintentionally discharged the gun.
Tucker was shot at point-blank range along the surface of his face. The bullet took off his nose, destroyed his right eye, the roof of his mouth and many of his teeth, and left shrapnel in his brain. Tucker was in a coma in critical condition for a month. Since the accident he has had 15 surgeries, with more to come. After becoming suicidal, he also spent time in a mental health treatment center.
Today, Tucker is trying to resume a normal life. Commenting on how his life has changed, he joked with a reporter, "I can take off my nose and take out my eye and I've never been able to do anything close to that before."
Tucker works part-time at a local supermarket and will graduate from high school in June. He will attend Amarillo College next year and hopes to become a trauma counselor.
"I look at life in a totally different perspective than I used to," he said. "I have different beliefs about stuff, how you should live your life. You can't really let people or society hold you back from what you want to do."

2 injured in unintentional shooting at gun show

Two men, ages 20 and 27, were attending a gun show in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. According to police, one of the men had just purchased a 9mm Highpoint semi-automatic handgun and was attempting to load it when he unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The bullet went through the man's hand and struck the other man in the buttocks.
The men drove to the hospital where they were treated. Police were then called, but they don't anticipate filing any charges in the incident.

3-year-old unintentionally shoots and kills himself with uncle's gun

3-year-old Ryder Rozier, of Guthrie, Oklahoma was visiting his uncle Ian Rozier. Rozier is an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper. According to reports, Ryder found a loaded, unlocked handgun on a bedroom nightstand.
Ryder unintentionally shot himself in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The gun was the trooper's person weapon, not his state-issued gun.
According to his aunt, the family was preparing for Christmas. Ryder was very excited about the upcoming holiday and asked his parents to hurry up and wrap all the presents so he could find them under the tree.
Oklahoma does not have a Child Access Prevention law. Such laws require that guns be kept locked and not accessible by children.

Man unintentionally shoots and kills himself at shooting range

62-year-old Jerry Marsh, of Columbia, South Carolina, was at Shooter's Choice gun store and shooting range. He was dismantling his 40-caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon.
Marsh was shot in the chest. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A firearms instructor commented, "Always assume a gun is loaded. Additionally, never point a muzzle of a gun at anything you don't want to destroy. Accident defined: premeditated carelessness.

Man shoots granddaughter mistaking her for an intruder

A 61-year-old Rochester, Minnesota man was sleeping when he heard a noise outside at around 11 o'clock Monday night. The man grabbed his 9 mm handgun and told his wife to call the police. He took the gun and went to investigate the noise.
When he saw a figure at the back door the man fired at least two shots. The person at the backdoor was his 16-year-old granddaughter. She was struck once in the upper torso. She was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive her injuries.
The granddaughter had been living with her grandparents for a few months. They thought she was home when they heard the noise outside.
"The homeowner and his wife remain cooperative and are extremely shaken by last night's events," said the local police captain. "It doesn't appear there was any dispute, any problems with the homeowner, his wife or the granddaughter. It's just a tragic event."

Man putting handgun under pillow for protection unintentionally shoots wife in the face

A 45-year-old Westtown, Pennsylvania man was preparing to go to bed. He was putting a .45 caliber Kimber semi-automatic handgun under his pillow when he unintentionally discharged the gun, shooting his wife in the face. (The couple is legally divorced but reconciled and moved back in together over a year ago.)
The woman was flown to a hospital in Philadelphia where she is listed in stable condition. She will undergo surgery to remove the bullet and repair facial damage.
The gun was legally owned by the husband. He was cooperative and provided a detailed statement to police. The case remains under investigation, but no charges have been filed.

7-year-old unintentionally shot and killed outside gun store

44-year-old Joseph Loughrey, of Sharpsville, Pennsylvania took two guns to a gun store in East Lackawannock Township to try and sell the guns. He had a scope rifle and a 9mm Taurus handgun but the shop owner was not interested in either gun.
So Loughrey went back to his truck with his 7-year-old son, Craig. He put the boy in a booster seat on the passenger side, and put the rifle in the truck. As he was getting in the truck he reached to put the handgun in the center storage console. That's when he unintentionally discharged the gun.
The bullet struck Craig in the chest. The boy died at the scene.
According to police, Loughrey was cooperative but distraught. He had taken the clip out of the gun and didn't realize there was a bullet still in the chamber.
Police are reviewing surveillance video from the shop. Loughrey could face charges, including manslaughter and negligence.
Loughrey is divorced from Craig's mother and had custody of the child over the weekend.

Baseball Hall of Famer unintentionally shoots Chicago Cubs manager while quail hunting

Former Milwaukee Brewer shortstop and Baseball Hall of Famer Robin Yount was quail hunting with Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum in Arizon.
According to Sveum the two were hunting around 50 yards apart. "The bird got up in front of him, and he lost track of where I was and pulled the trigger. I was just looking for birds myself. It was behind me, so I got drilled with pellets in the back and one stuck in the ear."
Yount and Sveum were teammates in Milwaukee and have hunted together before.
Sveum brushed off the incident and jokingly started calling his friend Dick Cheney (in reference to the former vice president who unintentionally shot a friend while hunting in Texas).
Thankfully, Sveum was not seriously hurt in the shooting, because that would have been no joking matter.

Police arrest 16-year-old in shooting police say was unintentional

Two 16-year-old boys were alone at a Chesterfield, Virginia home. The two boys were described as "best friends."
According to reports, they were playing with a handgun. The clip had been removed from the gun and the boys didn't realize there was a bullet left in the chamber.
One of the boys unintentionally discharged the gun and shot the other boy in the face. The bullet entered the boy's left cheek and came out the other side of this face. He was taken to the hospital for surgery and is expected to recover.
The teen who shot the gun has been arrested and charged with felonious assault and reckless handling of a firearm.
Police are trying to determine how the boys got the gun. It does not appear that the firearm was owned by either of boys' parents.
Why do some unintentional shootings result in arrest and others don't, even when the circumstances are similar?

Teenage boys charged with murder after friend killed by neighbor firing warning shot

Four teenagers were breaking into remote fishing camps on Gravine Island, Alabama last April when some nearby neighbors came to see what was going on. The three neighbors, William Hearn, Larry Duncan, and Lonnie Davison got their guns and boated over to the cabin where they had heard noise. Seeing the teenagers they told them to stop and stay where they were.
Hearn and Duncan fired warning shots into the ground. One of the bullets hit 17-year-old Summer Moody who was hiding in the bushes. Summer was shot in the head and died of her injuries ten days later.
Last week the District Attorney announced that a grand jury had indicted the three other teens, 18-year-old Scott Bryd, 18-year-old Dylan Tyree, and 18-year-old Daniel Parnell, for murder. The three were also charged with felony burglary.
In a news release the District Attorney stated:

But for the actions of these three young men - who were engaging in armed burglaries and who acted aggressively when caught - Summer Moody would be with us today.

No charges were filed against the man who actually fired the shot that killed Summer. However, Summer's family has filed suit against the three men, as well as against the Alabama Marine police. According to the family lawyer:

The family is upset and a little angry at the situation. They felt all along that there were two sets of offenders on that particular morning. One were the boys in some place they shouldn't have been and committing a crime that would be up to a jury or judge to decide what the appropriate punishment is. Ths other set of offenders are the shooters who armed themselves up and came down and interjected themselves into this situation where these teenagers were."

Father and grandfather struggling over gun unintentionally shoot 2 young children

27-year-old Kenton Cowgill, of Carthage, Missouri, was with his children at his parents' home when his father-in-law, 48-year-old Mark Wittenmeyer came over to confront him about an earlier domestic violence incident involving his daughter, Shayna.
According to a police report, Wittenmeyer forced his way past Cowgill's mother to enter the home. Cowgill then reportedly picked up a loaded shotgun which was nearby. The two began struggling with the shotgun while the weapons' muzzle was pointed in the direction of the two children. The shotgun unintentionally discharged, with pellets striking both of the children.
The two children, a 2-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy, were taken to the hospital and treated for non life-threatening injuries.
Cowgill was arrested and charged with three counts of domestic assault, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Wittenmeyer was not charged in the incident.

4 injured in unintentional hunting shootings in Iowa this weekend

4 people were shot in unintentional hunting incidents this weekend in Iowa.

• 58-year-old Miles Sagen was hit in the shoulder with a shot fired by his hunting partner.  He was taken to the hospital in Des Moines where he was listed in serious condition. A spokesperson from the Department of Natural Resources said at the time of the incident there was a thick fog in the area that made it impossible to see more than 100 yards. "I would strongly urge hunters to reconsider hunting in these conditions with such dense fog," he said.
• 46-year-old Steven Thompson was injured when he unintentionally discharged his shotgun. He shot himself in the big toes and was taken to the hospital in Iowa City.
• 32-year-old Stacy Wiltfang was struck by a stray bullet while hunting.  The bullet penetrated one of her boots but did not penetrate her foot.  She was treated at the hospital and released. 
• 48-year-old Clint Morgan was hit in the elbow by another member of his seven-person hunting party. He was taken to the hospital in Des Moines for treatment. 

18-year-old unintentionally shot and killed when dropped gun discharges

18-year-old Patrick Goddard, of Strafford, Missouri, was hanging out with a group of friends Monday night. According to Brockwell Rostam, one of the teens present, "We were in my room and he [Patrick] had a little handgun. He starts showing us it and passing it around and it was scaring Haley, because she doesn't like guns. So I threw it down on the table because she was so upset about it. And when I did, it just exploded; I didn't even see where it hit him. And everyone just freaked out and we thought he was faking or something."
Patrick was hit with the single bullet and died at the scene.
Police are investigating the incident but no charges in the death are filed.
"I always thought guns were to protect you," said Brockwell. "But all they did was take away our best friend and so I'll never touch another gun as long as I live. That's a promise."

Teen who unintentionally shot himself stole gun from unlocked car

16-year-old Yaredh Gaudier, of Orange City, Florida was with friends at the Volusia County library on November 15th, examining a .38 special handgun when he unintentionally discharged the gun. Yaredh was shot in the head and died later of his injuries.
Police now reveal that the gun was stolen from the car of the wife of Pine Ridge High School's football coach. One of the teens who was with Yaredh when he was shot told police that he and another friend acted as lookouts while Yaredh went into the unlocked car. He found the loaded, unlocked gun in the glove compartment of the car.
The next day, the teens took the gun into the woods and shot a few rounds and then went to the library where the shooting occurred.
The gun belonged to Shantita Subert-Odom's husband. She told reporters that they kept the gun in her car for protection and that neither she or her husband even realized the gun had been stolen.
When asked if she felt any responsibility for the shooting Subert-Odom responded, "I don't...well, as far as feeling at fault, I hate that the gun came from my vehicle. There's nothing we can do about it now but I pray for his family and I hope they find peace."
Police said the gun was stolen more than 10 years ago and the Odoms inherited it from Odom's mother.

Man adjusting his concealed weapon unintentionally discharges gun in movie theater

An off-duty Correctional Sgt. with the California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation was at a screening of "The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn - Part 2" at the Regal Cinema in Sonora, California. He told police "that he's walking up an aisle looking for a seat in the theater, while doing so he was adjusting his off-duty holster and somehow the strap came undone and the firearm discharged."
The bullet ripped through an armrest and landed on the floor. A woman said she was hit from shrapnel but details are unclear.
A woman who was at the movie with her daughter told reporters, "What was rolling through my mind was the Aurora, Colorado issue, so I didn't know if this guy was going to shoot us."
Police confiscated the gun and are investigating the incident. So far, no charges have been filed.

Former candidate for governor unintentionally shot during hunting trip

Ken Miller, a former Montana State Senate and Republican candidate for Governor of Montana, was unintentionally shot while hunting Wednesday.
Miller was hunting on the family farm near Joliet, Montana when, according to his wife, "He was shot in both lower legs when a member of the hunting parties' gun accidentally discharged. His wounds are not life threatening, and the family expects a full recovery."
Miller was in surgery for more than two hours on Wednesday.
Miller served in the state senate for 8 years. He was Chairman of the Montana Republican Party from 2001-2003. He is a strong advocate for Second Amendment Rights.

Teen brings gun on school bus, unintentionally shoots and kills another student

15-year-old Jordyn Howe had a handgun in his backpack when he boarded his school bus in Homestead, Florida Tuesday morning. While Jordyn was showing off the handgun to another student he unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The bullet hit 13-year-old Lourdes Guzman-DeJesus in the neck. Lourdes was flown to a Miami-Dade hospital where she died of her injuries.
Jordyn has been charged with manslaughter and carrying a concealed firearm. Police do not say where Jordyn got the handgun. Florida law requires gun owners to secure their firearms to ensure that a person under age 16 does not gain access to the gun. There is no indication on whether or not an adult will be charged with allowing Jordyn to access the handgun.

Gun Store Employee Unintentionally Shoots Customer

An employee at the Copper County Sporting Arms gun store in Silver City, New Mexico was unloading a .45 caliber handgun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The bullet hit a 65-year-old customer in the back.
Police had to block off the area to allow space for an airmed helicopter to land to take the victim to the hospital. The man was flown to an El Paso hospital for treatment. He is listed in stable condition.
Police are still investigating the incident and have not yet determined if charges will be filed.

Close combat class firearm instructor unintentionally shoots instructor during training class

Former Russian soldier and current firearms trainer and video host Sonny Puzikas was teaching a "close combat class" at the Texas Defensive Shooting Academy in Ferris, Texas.
According to the founder of the academy, the range "allows shooters the ability to shoot the way they want, without the stringent rules imposed like most other ranges."
The class was being held in a section of the range called "the city", a live fire area with multiple rooms and targets. This particular class had a three room shoot house, each room with multiple targets. Students were taken through the house one at a time and used live ammunition to shoot at the targets.
The last students were going through the shoot house and it was getting dark. According to Sonny:

"I knew the last shooter was going inside to shoot. I heard the shooting shop. I did not hear shooting for a while. I finished saying good-bye so I decided to make a run in the house before I left. I made the statement, 'I am going to do a run' and then I heard a person standing behind me respond to me saying, 'OK' I did not turn around so I don't know who said OK to me. I, wrongfully, assumed it was clear to go. I pulled my pistol out and set up and started coming around the corner. I shot three quick shots at the far left target, then three quick shots at the far right target and then three quick shots at the close right target just insdie the room. I then heard someone say, 'You shot me.'

Sonny had unintentionally shot his assistant instructor, Gene Smithson. Smithson was shot three times, twice in the abdomen and once in the right bicep and hand. He was taken to the local hospital and is expected to survive.

Man cleaning gun unintentionally shoots 2 neighbors

Ethan Chriman, of Fayetteville, North Carolina was cleaning his gun in his apartment when he unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The bullet went through the wall into the neighboring unit were it struck two people. It hit a man in the arm and a woman in the leg.
Chriman went to the apartment to make sure everyone was alright. He called 911 and the two were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Chriman has been charged with discharging a firearm inside city limits.
The incident comes less than a year from a similar shooting in nearby Chadbourn, NC. James Blackwell was cleaning his rifle when he unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet traveled across the street and struck three people. A 16-year-old girl died of her injuries.

Utah man killed while target shooting with family members

24-year-old Joshua Hooper of Salt Lake City, Utah was target shooting with three family members in Manning Canyon. The four had just reloaded and were walking back to shoot when one of the family members unintentionally discharged his gun.
Josh was shot in the back of the head, killing him instantly.
According to police, "The gun went off. The person who was holding the gun said he believed he just tapped the trigger. It was a sensitive trigger. There's no question that some rules of firearms safety could have been followed better but it doesn't change that you have a number of people suffering right now because of the loss of Mr. Hooper."
Josh leaves behind a wife.

Two injured at University of Colorado when staffer with concealed weapons permit unintentionally fires gun

An unidentified staff member of the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Colorado took out a gun in his office and unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The staffer and another person in the office were injured. While the university has not released the details of the injuries neither person had to be hospitalized.
The staff member is on administrative leave.
In March, the Colorado Supreme Court struck down the University's ban on guns on campus. Starting this semester those with concealed weapons permits were allowed to bring guns onto the campus. The staff member in question had a concealed weapons permit.
Other recent unintentional shootings on college campuses include:
- A criminal justice professor at Long Island University in New York, unintentionally shot himself while standing in the hallway outside of class.
- A student at Weber State University in Utah, unintentionally shot himself while walking across campus.
- A sophomore at Florida State University was shot and killed at a fraternity house when a student showing friends his rifle unintentionally discharged the gun.

Woman trying to learn how to handle a gun unintentionally shoots her husband

Jacob Cherry, of Colorado Springs, Colorado was cleaning his handguns when he started to show his wife how to safely handle a gun. During the lesson on safety, his wife unintentionally discharged the gun.
Cherry was shot in the left hand and left leg. He was taken to the hospital and is listed in good condition.
Police are still investigating the incident and no charges have been filed.

Policeman trying to shoot dog unintentionally wounds fellow officer

32-year-old police officer Willie Bryant, of Memphis, Tennessee, was part of a multi-jurisdictional gang unit task force that was serving a drug-related warrant at a home in Memphis.
The police were inside the home when a Cane Corso dog charged the officers. One of the officers attempted to shoot the dog, but missed and shot Bryant in the back.
Bryant was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery and was listed in critical condition.
The task force found crack cocaine, three body armor vests, and five handguns inside the house.
The mayor of Memphis said homes that contain drugs and guns are too prevalent in Memphis and officers take their lives in their hands when they execute such high-risk searches. "The key is officers are in jeopardy, they are in danger, whether it's friendly fire or whatever," he said.
Memphis police director laid the blame for the shooting at those inside the home. "Dogs, armed parties, you never know what you are going to encounter when you kick a door in," he said. "We have to make life or death decisions, not only about our lives, but about other people's lives, in less than a second's notice."

20-year-old playing with gun unintentionally shoots his friend in the chest

20-year-old Michael Hallock, of Geddes, New York, and 20-year-old Thomas Devine were at Devine's home with several other friends. According to police:
Hallock and Devine begain playing with Devine's weapons. The two were pointing guns, including a military-style 7.62 mm assault rifle, around the apartment and at each other during the night.
Just before 1 a.m. Hallock fired the rifle as it was pointed directly at Devine. Devine was wounded in the chest and taken to the local hospital where he is in serious condition.
Hallock was arrested and charged with second-degree assault in the shooting as well as two misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of a weapon for having metal knuckles and a combination mental knuckles and knife.

Man on probation for unintentional gun death violates no firearms provision, posts picture on Facebook with gun

24-year-old Fredrick Lavin, of Globe, Arizona was on four years intensive probation for the unintentionally shooting death of his friend, Kyle Keller.
In Feb. 2008, Lavin, Keller and another friend, Ryan McKelvy, were target shooting with an AK-47 and a handgun. Lavin picked up the handgun, thinking it was not loaded. According to police reports, "He pointed the gun in an unspecified direction and pulled the trigger to dry fire it. The bullet hit Keller in the head and killed him."
Lavin was sentenced to four years probation and was ordered to not use or possess weapons while on probation. But recently a Gila county Sheriff's detective discovered a photo of Lavin on Facebook posing with a rifle and a three-point buck. Records show that Lavin had been drawn for a deer hunting permit this year. (Arizona, like many other states, does not coordinate the list of those prohibited from possessing firearms with the list of those receiving hunting permits.)
Lavin's probation was revoked and he was sentenced to five years in prison, including 2.5 years for negligent homicide and 2.5 years for weapons misconduct.

Georgia man unintentionally shoots, kills wife

47-year-old Otis Hammock, of Dalton, Georgia was in his apartment with his wife, 47-year-old Tammie. He told police that Tammie was handing him his handgun when the gun unintentionally discharged, shooting Tammie in the head.
Tammie was rushed to the hospital where she later died of her injuries.
Police are investigating the incident and are working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. No arrest has been made and no charges have been filed.

10-year-old boy unintentionally shoots man while deer hunting

48-year-old Mark Maniscalshi, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sitting in a deer blind with two young boys when the 10-year-old boy unintentionally discharged a .22-caliber handgun he was holding.
The bullet struck Maniscalichi in the forearm. He was able to walk out of the woods and drove himself to the hospital where he was treated and released later in the day.
The is no minimum age for youth hunting in New Hampshire. Youths under age 16 must be accompanied by a licensed adult hunter. There is also no required hunter education or gun safety course requirements for youth hunters under age 16.

Man distraught after unintentionally shooting roommate kills himself

20-year-old Chris Carter and his roommate, 21-year-old Phillip Villa were in their apartment in Fairbanks, Alaska. According to police Carter was playing with a gun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon and shot Villa.
Distraught over the shooting, Carter turned the gun on himself and shot himself in the chest. Both men were taken to the local hopsital. Carter died of his injuries. Villa was transported to a hospital in Seattle where he is in critical but stable condition.
Sources say both men may have been consuming alcohol when the incident occurred.

Father says gun that teen used to unintentionally kill his son bought off Craigslist

When 15-year-old Nicholas King, of Indianapolis, Indiana knocked on the front door of his friend's house, his friend opened the door and pointed a Romarm 7.62 rifle at him. His friend wanted to scare Nicholas and thinking the gun was unloaded, he pointed and pulled the trigger.
The rifle fired and a round struck Nicholas in the neck. Paramedics were unable to revive the boy and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two adults were in the house at the time of the shooting and they did not know there was a rifle in the home. The gun belonged to 18-year-old Kevin Edwards. Kevin let his 15-year-old stepbrother handle the gun. It was the stepbrother who shot and killed Nicholas.
Nicholas' father told reporters that he believes Kevin bought the gun off Craigslist. He said is was too easy for his son's friend to get a gun.
Indiana allows for the private sale of guns, where there will be no background check run, no records kept. All Kevin had to do to purchase a gun was find what he wanted on Craigslist, arrange to meet the seller somewhere and give him the money. No paperwork, no background check, no waiting, no safety training.
Both Kevin and his stepbrother have been arrested. Kevin has been charged with criminal recklessness and his stepbrother has been charged with reckless homicide.

8-year-old boy unintentionally shot at gun range

8-year-old David Young, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, was with his family at the Black Hawk Park firing range. He wandered across the firing line and was unintentionally shot in the head by his 5-year-old sister with a .22-caliber rifle.
At first officials thought it was a minor injury with an entrance and exit wound. But later at the hospital doctors discovered a lump on another part of his head and suspected the bullet fragmented and part of the projectile went deeper than first thought.
David was flown to Iowa City and taken to the Brain Trauma Unit. His conditions wasn't available.
Officials plan to meet at the sheriff's office to review safety at the range in light of the incident.

Baby shot in face, two others injured in unintentional discharge of handgun

A 21-year-old Nacagdoches, Texas man was unloading a 9mm handgun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The bullet struck the man in the left hand. It then struck a young woman sitting in a chair nearby. The bullet struck the woman in the hand and then hit an 8-month-old baby who was sitting in her lap. The baby was hit in the face. The bullet then continued through the wall of the apartment and into the residence next door where it lodged in a piece of furniture.
All three people were treated at a local hospital. The baby was transferred to a hospital in Houston in serious condition.
Police are investigating the incident. "Right now, it is being treated as an accidental shooting," said the public information officer. No charges have been filed.

Teenager unintentionally shoots himself trying to run from police after stealing a car

18-year-old Roger Donell Johnson, of Winter Park, Florida, was driving a stolen blue Volvo down the road when the owner of the car saw him drive by. The owner called police who found the car in front of a nearby house. The police boxed in the car but Johnson threw the car into reverse and slammed into an unmarked police car.
Johnson then jumped from the car and ran north with police in pursuit. He pulled a .44-caliber handgun from his waistband and in the process unintentionally shot himself in the right calf.
Johnson was arrested and charged with grand theft of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, carrying a concealed firearm and aggravated assault.

Man sentenced in unintentional shooting death

24-year-old Deon Farley, of Syracuse, New York has been sentenced to one to four years in prison for criminally negligent homicide in the May, 2010 shooting death of 25-year-old Morgan McMahon.
Farley and McMahon were riding in a minivan with two other people when the vehicle hit a bump in the road and Farley unintentionally discharged the gun he was holding. McMahon was shot in the back and died of her injuries.
According to police the four had just been involved in a drive-by shooting and were fleeing the scene when the incident happened.
Farley was also sentenced to 10 years, with five years post release supervision, for criminal possession of a weapon.

Trio of unintentional shootings in Maine

Gil Jaeger, of Bristol, Maine was shot when he went into the woods near his home to investigate gunshots he heard.
According to police a nearby neighbor was target practicing on his own property. "Investigators are confident that this shootings was not intentional in nature and all the parties involved have been identified and are cooperating," said the local sheriff.
Jaeger sustained "non-life-threatening injuries to his torso" and is recovering in the hospital.

33-year-old Cory Ouellette, of Orono, ME and 24-year-old Christopher Dempsey, of Topsham, ME, were arrested and charged with reckless conduct with a firearm after a stray bullet fired while they were target practicing entered a nearby residence.
A woman called police to say a bullet had just shot into her house. According to reports, "the bullet went through several walls and landed in the living room, where she was sitting. It missed her by an estimated three feet."
Police confiscated multiple guns from the men, including a .44-magnum rifle.

Kennebec County Sheriff Randall Liberty is bruised but okay after being unintentionally shot by a deputy during a training session at a gun range in Gardiner, ME.
The men were taking part in a required qualifying session at the gun range. Liberty was shot in the back when a deputy went to reload his pistol. Fortunately, Liberty was wearing his ballistic vest.
The deputy was reloading his weapon behind a shed about 30 feet away when he unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet went through both walls of the shed before hitting Liberty.
"It hit just to the right of the center of my spine," said Liberty. "The vest did a good job. It dispersed the blow."
Liberty added that it's the policy of the Kennebec County Sheriff's Department to require officers to wear ballistic vests on gun ranges, but it's not a policy for every department.

Man hosting "shooting party" arrested when stray bullet hits house nearby

60-year-old Craig Jacobus, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was hosting a "shooting party" in his back yard. According to reports there were about 40 people at the party, of all ages. Guests were using metal can lids and watermelons as shooting targets while shooting a 9mm handgun and an Ar-15 and AK-47 assault rifle.
Police were called when a bullet from the AK-47 struck a neighbor's house. Stanley Reinhold was in his sun room when he heard an unusual sounds. Upon closer inspection, Reinhold discovered that a bullet had hit his house.
Reports indicate that the bullet hit a porch rail, entered through the window frame, angled upward to a wall and then bounced back toward the window before falling to the floor of the sun room.
When police arrived at Jacobus' house to investigate they could see traffic on the road behind where the targets were located as well as the high school athletic fields.
Jacobus insisted that they were shooting in a "safe manner" and told police he had hosted similar parties before. He was arrested and charged with recklessly endangering another person. Jacobus was arraigned last week and leased on $25,000 bail.

Woman showing off her gun in hair salon unintentionally shoots and kills co-worker

53-year-old Suripan Thomas, of Jonesboro, Georgia was showing off her pistol to a group of people. She wanted to show them how the sight worked so she took the handgun from her purse and was pointing it in the direction of a co-worker when she pulled the trigger.
The gun discharged and the bullet struck 40-year-old Lynn Adams in the chest. Adams died of her injuries.
Thomas was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct.
Salons seem to be dangerous places to be these days. Consider:

• October 21, 2012 - 7 shot, 4 killed in Brookfield, Wisconsin salon by husband of employee.
• October 18, 2012 – 4 shot, 3 killed, in Casselberry, Florida hair salon by estranged boyfriend of employee.
• Sept 27 2012 – 2 shot, 1 fatally, in Dorchester, Massachusetts hair salon.
• Sept. 24, 2012 - 1 shot and killed, 6 others, including 2 children, held hostage at Sioux Falls, South Dakota hair salon by employee’s estranged boyfriend.
• July 14, 2012 -  2 shot and injured inside an Ellicott City, Maryland hair salon by employee’s estranged boyfriend.
• April 6, 2012 – Patron shot when gun in purse unintentionally discharges in Chicago, Illinois nail salon.
• February, 22, 2012 – 4 shot and killed inside Norcross, Georgia salon by relative of spa’s owner.
• February 13, 2012 – 5 people shot, including 2-year-old girl, during shootout inside Vallejo, California nail salon when gunmen targeting a customer.
• October 12, 2011 - 9 shot, 8 killed in Seal Beach, California beauty salon by employee’s ex-husband.

Family man mistaken for boar while hunting with friend, shot and killed

34-year-old Clinton Haas, of Loxahatchee, Florida, was out hunting boar with his friend, 36-year-old Ernie Small. The two were helping to eradicate boar from a gated community.
"Boars destroy property like there is no tomorrow," said a local police officer. "They eat roots, insects, they dig up the ground."
At some point, Small mistook Haas for a boar and,tragically, shot and killed him.
Haas leaves behind a wife, son and twin daughters. He owned a one-man repair business.
His wife told reporters that Haas' body was taken to the University of Miami where his cornea, tissues and bone marrow will be donated.

Man cleaning his rifle unintentionally fires bullet through neighbor's floor

31-year-old Brian Glodgett, of Stratford, Connecticut was cleaning his rifle when he unintentionally discharged the weapon. The bullet went through the floor of the apartment above. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Police confiscated the gun, which they found stored under a bed, and arrested Glodgett for illegal discharge of a firearm.
In 2010 Glodgett was charged with drunk driving after failing a sobriety test. He was stopped for failing to drive in the correct lane.

Soldier unintentionally shoots self in knee, dies

38-year-old Charles Lacy was a Special Forces soldier stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado. He was sitting in a recliner cleaning a gun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon. The bullet hit him in the knee.
Lacy was taken to the local hospital where he died of his injuries.
"Anybody else should have survived a shot in the knee," said a police spokeswoman. "But this hit his artery. It was just a tragic accident."
Lacy had received numerous commendations during his military career. His deployments included Niger and Haiti.

Gun enthusiast unintentionally shoots himself in the head and dies

53-year-old David Holiday, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, was a gun enthusiast and a military veteran who was believed to be a master weapons instructor. He had invited some friends over to his house to sell and/or trade some guns.
Holiday had six handguns on his kitchen table and was telling his friends how he always kept the guns in his house unloaded. He picked up one of the guns, raised it up, and believing the gun was unloaded, unintentionally discharged the gun.
Holiday was shot in the head and died at the scene.
Police said that alcohol was involved in the incident but don't yet know to what extent.

Man helping brother slaughter pig unintentionally shot and killed

28-year-old Koua Vang of Elk Grove, California was helping his older brother slaughter two pigs for a family party. A circle of family members, including Vang, had gathered around the two bound pigs. The brother killed one pig but when he went to shoot the second pig the animal lurched, hitting the .22-caliber rifle and causing the gun to unintentionally discharge.
Vang was hit in the face at close range. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died of his injuries two days later.

3-year-old finds gun under parent's bed, shoots himself

A 3-year-old Pontiac, Michigan boy was playing in his parent's bedroom when he found an unlocked, loaded .40-caliber Glock handgun in a holster under the bed. He unintentionally shot himself in the mouth.
The boy was taken to the local hospital and then transferred to a larger facility. He has injuries to his mouth and face and lost some teeth but is expected to recover.
The father told police the bedroom door is usually locked but they were moving some things around the house and left the door unlocked.
The 35-year-old man has a concealed weapons permit but authorities are recommending to the licensing board that it be suspended.

Benefit to teach gun safety, honor teen who unintentionally shot and killed himself

19-year-old Zackery Freeman, of Crawfordsville, Indiana was an avid hunter who had taken gun safety classes. But on August 22nd he made a mistake and ended up paying for it with his life.
That day Zack and a friend were out shooting. According to a friend, "Zack's friend laid the weapon behind the front seat. Zack picked it up by the business end, not knowing it had a round in it."
Zack was removing the shotgun from the back seat of his car. He grabbed the gun by the barrel, assuming it was not loaded. But it was loaded and one of the guns' two safeties was off and the weapon discharged, striking Zack in the abdomen.
Zack was rushed to the hospital but died a short time later.
"It was a terrible accident, and Zack knew better," said his mother. "But he had to go to work and he was in a hurry."
This Saturday an event will be held at the Big R store in Crawfordsville. The benefit is called "A Cause for a Rebel" and will feature a silent auction, music, food, and a car, truck and bike show. Local law enforcement will also be at the event to teach the do's and don'ts of handling firearms as well as handing out gun safety locks and literature about gun safety.

Father shoots and kills son after mistaking him for burglar

77-year-old James Griffin, of Chicago, Illinois, was watching television with his son, 48-year-old Michael Griffin. The two fell asleep but at some point Michael woke up and left the apartment. When he came back in James thought Michael was a burglar and shot and killed him.
Police found Michael, who was shot once in the head, dead in his father's home.
James Griffin was a retired police officer. He had served for 42 years as a homicide detective on Chicago's West Side. He retired in 1998.
Michael had recently been evicted from his apartment and had moved in with his father and one of his brothers.
His brother, Stephen, told reporters that his father's senses "aren't as sharp as they used to be," but added that he is in good physical health.
No charges have been announced by police.

Man showing off gun in hotel room unintentionally shoots gun wounds man in room next door

26-year-old Zachariah McCullough, of Grand Junction, Colorado was in a hotel room with friends at the Mesa Inn drinking beer and watching a football game. He pulled out .41-caliber Ruger revolver and started showing off the gun.
According to records, "Zach was displaying and boasting about the firearm and witness told him to unload it. Zach was manipulating the firearm when it suddenly discharged and blew a large hole in the south wall."
The bullet pierced the north wall of the room next door, blasting through a mirror. The man staying in the room, Juan Lara, was injured by shrapnel in his right shoulder.
McCullough fled the scene and was later located at his home by police. He denied any knowledge of the incident.
According to a statement from the police officer, "I told him that in a hypothetical situation where one discharged a firearm into a neighboring room in a motel, a reasonable human reaction to such a mishap would be that of concern that someone might have been hit."
McCullough later admitted the shooting. He was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault, reckless endangerment, illegal discharge of a firearm and prohibited use of weapons. According to his lawyer, McCullough is the father of five children and his wife is expecting a sixth child.

Woman unintentionally shoots her 8-year-old daughter, lies to police about incident

31-year-old Jennifer Mitchell, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana was fighting with her husband, Henry. At some point during the argument Jennifer armed herself with a handgun and unintentionally fired the gun. The bullet went through Henry's leg and hit their 8-year-old daughter. The bullet grazed the girl's chest.
At the hospital while her daughter was being treated Jennifer told police that the girl had found the .38-caliber handgun in a nightstand and had accidentally fired it. During the investigation police discovered inconsistencies in the parents' story and arrested the pair.
Jennifer Mitchell was charged with aggravated battery, negligent injury, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and criminal mischief for filing a false police report.
Henry Mitchell was charged with simple assault, accessory after the fact to negligent injury, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and obstruction of justice.
The couple's three children, including the girl who was wounded, were taken into protective custody.

Woman unintentionally discharges gun, hits tv in apartment below

25-year-old Amy Walter, of Colorado Springs, Colorado picked up a handgun and unintentionally discharged it. The bullet went through the floor of her apartment and into the apartment below.
Shirae Hines, who lives in the apartment below Walter, had just settled down with her kids to watch television when the bullet came ripping through the ceiling and hit her flat screen TV. Hines called the police who questioned the three people in the apartment above.
Walter was arrested and charged with several misdemeanors.

Man cleaning his handgun unintentionally shoots his girlfriend

34-year-old Lena Owens, of Coal Grove, Ohio was getting something out of the refrigerator when she was unintentionally shot by her boyfriend.
According to police, Owens' boyfriend was cleaning his .22- caliber handgun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon. The bullet hit Lena in the breast area. She was taken to the hospital where she was treated and released.
No arrest has been made in the incident.

17-year-old unintentionally shot and killed by older brother who had recently bought a gun

17-year-old David Wade was in the basement of his Stoughton, Massachusetts home with his 21-year-old brother. Just a few weeks earlier, his brother had gotten his gun license and purchased a .40-caliber handgun (Massachusetts is one of only eleven states that require a license or permit before an individual can purchase a handgun).
According to reports, David was unintentionally shot in the chest by his brother shortly before 3:27 pm.m Saturday.
David's mother and brother tried to help him before emergency responders arrived. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.
Police are still investigating the incident.

Man teaching minor how to hunt unintentionally shot and killed

28-year-old Kenneth Moore, of Rochester, Indiana, was with a group of four who were teaching a 12-year-old how to hunt as part of Indiana's Youth Deer Season. This year's youth hunting session was Saturday and Sunday, during which time only hunters younger than 18 are allowed to have weapons.
According to reports, the hunting party had split into two groups. Moore and the youth were walking in a cornfield when Moore was shot in the head. Police have not identified the shooter but did say he was an adult.
Moore was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The incident is still under investigation.

Man kills masked burglar, then discovers it's his 15-year-old son

44-year-old Jeffrey Giuliano, of New Fairfield, Connecticut, got a call from his sister who lives next door about 1 a.m. Thursday. She told him she thought someone was trying to break into her house. So Giuliano grabbed a gun and went outside.
According to reports, when he got outside he found a man dressed in black with a black ski mask covering his face. The man was holding a knife. Giuliano told police that a confrontation occurred, that the man approached him in a "threatening manner" and he was afraid he was about to be assaulted with the knife, so he opened fire.
Giuliano shot the man multiple times, including shooting him in the head.
Police arrived just moments later and found Giuliano sitting on the grass, dressed in a t-shirt and shorts. The man he shot lay dead in the driveway, the knife still in his hand.
A state police spokesperson said the identity of the dead man was not determined until some time after the shooting when detectives removed the mask and discovered it was Giuliano's 15-year-old son, Tyler. "All in all it's a tragedy," he said.
A town official told reporters, "You certainly don't expect it to happen in your own small hometown where there's very little crime."
Giuliano is a fifth-grade teacher at the local school. Tyler was a student in his class and after learning his grandmother was too ill to care for him, Giuliano adopted the boy.
According to a classmate of Tyler's, "He's a great student. He got straight A's. He barely did anything wrong in high school. He was one of the nicest kids you would ever meet."
Detectives are working to figure out exactly what happened. They say the investigation will take weeks.

"Extremely disoriented" hospital patient finds gun in wife's purse, shoots it

68-year-old Kyle Bragg of Glynco, Georgia was a patient in a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. His wife, 64-year-old Linda Bragg, who has a concealed weapons permit, was visiting Kyle. Linda forgot she had a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun in her purse.
According to a hospital spokesperson, Kyle "who is a patient at the hospital who does appear to be extremely disoriented went into his wife's purse where there was a gun. A that time he did fire off a round. It did go into a wall."
Florida allows individuals with a permit to carry loaded, hidden guns into hospitals. The public can only hope that those with a concealed weapons permit can at the very least remember where their guns are.

Woman attending New Mexico State University football game shot by stray bullet

57-year-old Patsy Beljarano of Las Cruces, New Mexico was attending her first college home football game at Aggie Memorial Stadium at New Mexico State University. She was sitting in the general admission section, eating candy when she felt something sting her left leg. She reached down, touched her jeans and saw blood, and realized she had been shot.
A local fire chief sitting in the same section tended to Patsy's wound until the paramedics arrived. She was airlifted to a medical center in El Paso. She was treated and released the next day and is now home recovering from her injuries.
Police are investigating the incident. They believe the bullet was probably fired from outside the stadium, possibility in celebration of a touchdown.
Patsy believes her leg probably blocked the bullet from hitting a young boy who was in the seat next to her.
Patsy told reporters that she had witnessed a shooting several years ago during a high school football game when a 14-year-old boy was wounded.
"It's ridiculous," she said. "You can't even go out anywhere anymore."

Man trying to reload handgun unintentionally shoots and kills his friend

27-year-old Daniel Griffin, of Middlesex, North Carolina, was trying to reload a handgun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon. The bullet struck his friend, 21-year-old Taylor Samonia who was in a wheelchair nearby.
Taylor was struck in the left side and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Griffin has been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Flight attendant forgot she had gun in handbag, police unintentionally discharge gun while examining it

Jaclyn Luby is a flight attendant for Republic Airlines, a small regional carrier who operates flights for US Airways. On Sunday morning she showed up to work but forgot she had a loaded, unlocked handgun in her purse.
According to reports, Luby was walking through airport screening at Terminal C at Philadelphia International Airport around 6:50 a.m. She placed her purse and carry-on bag through the x-ray machine. TSA screeners saw the .38 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun and notified a Philadelphia police officer.
The officer was trying to secure the weapon when she unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet went into a TSA break room where an employee was sitting. No one was injured.
Luby has a concealed weapons permit for the gun but told police she forgot the gun was in her purse. She received a summary citation for disorderly conduct. Despite the fact that she lost track of her loaded, unlocked handgun, she will be allowed to continue to carry a gun in public.
According to a police spokesperson, the officer who discharged the gun "will go back to training for handling weapons. She will be off the streets for a period of time."

Hunter unintentionally shoots and kills himself while on cell phone with girlfriend

59-year-old David Young, of Gaston, South Carolina, was out hunting, walking on a road near St. Matthews and talking on the phone with his girlfriend when the cellphone went silent.
According to the coroner, his fiancee "could not get any response from him on the cellphone and she alerted authorities to the location."
When the sheriff arrived they found Young "with no signs of life and with an apparent gunshot wound to the chest."
It appears that Young tripped and fell which caused him to unintentionally discharge the gun.
A spokesman reminded hunters to "always make sure your guns are pointed in a safe direction and that the safety is on."

Man in critical condition after being hit in face by ricochet bullet

Two men got into a fight over a woman at the Southern Pines Mobile Home Park in Little Rock, Arkansas. According to a witness, "the dude in the crutches pulled the gun out and shot."
Witnesses said the gun was pointed towards the ground when it was fired. The bullet then ricocheted across the street and struck a man in the face. Two days later the man remained in the hospital in critical condition.
A mother whose children were outside playing said, "It could have been an innocent kid that got shot about nothing, just like an innocent person got shot about nothing."

After overcoming homelessness as a teenager to become a star high school football player 22-year-old unintentionally shoots and kills himself

When 22-year-old Marcus Dixon was in the seventh grade his father drove him to Stamford, Connecticut, dropped him off and told him 'Kid, you're on your own now.'
Thankfully, Marcus was taken in and later adopted by the McInerney family. He went on to become captain of the Stamford High School football team.
According to his coach, "When he came to us there were a lot of things that we needed to address that had nothing to do with football, but we used football as a way to deal with them. The turnaround that kid made is probably the greatest I have ever seen in my 20 years of coaching."
Marcus went on to play football at West Point before moving back to Stamford. Last week he was showing his Glock handgun to friends when he unintentionally shot and killed himself.
According to police, "The gun came out, they said he pulled the magazine out, started showing everybody, and then at that point he put it up towards his head and we think he believed the gun was unloaded and it went off."
His friends tried to perform CPR to save his life but police say knowing the type of gunshot wound he would never have survived it.

Man who unintentionally shot and killed his wife admits he did a "stupid thing by getting drunk and messing with a rifle."

59-year-old Bertrand Schroeder, of Dreher Twp., Pennsylvania, admitted that it was a "stupid thing" to get drunk and start "messing" with his rifles. While trying to unload one of the guns he unintentionally discharged the weapon and shot his wife, Donnalynn, in the neck.
Donnylynn, 51, was taken to the hospital and died during surgery.
Schroeder told police that his wfie had bought him a case of beer in the morning and that he spent most of the day drinking the beer. He also told police that his wife had given him money to buy the two rifles a month ago because she was concerned about rabid raccoons. Rather than go to a licensed dealer who would perform a criminal background check, he bought the guns from "a guy over in Moscow" because he knew it was illegal for him to possess guns as he had an aggravated assault conviction in New Jersey.
Schroeder was arrested and charged with criminal homicide, illegal firearm possession and fifty counts of cruelty to animals.
The animal cruelty charges were related to 50 beagles police found inside the home. According to the complaint the home and conditions were "deplorable for both human and animal welfare." The dogs were taken to a local shelter.

Vendor made up story about robbery, too embarrassed to admit he unintentionally shot himself

30-year-old Dusty Moore, of North Ogden, Utah, operates a corn stand at a small strip mall. He told police that he was robbed and shot Saturday morning. He described the robber as a man between 25 and 30 years old, 5 foot 6 inches to 5 foot 8 inches tall and 190 pounds. He added that the suspect appeared to be Hispanic and was wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.
The owner of the farm that sells the corn to Moore told reporters that Moore was robbed at the same location about a month ago. "He didn't go back to work for a few days after the robbery," the farmer said. "He was jittery."
But after a police investigation and interview with Moore, it was determined that Moore unintentionally discharged his handgun, inflicting a single gunshot wound to his lower back.
Police said Moore made up the story about the crime because he was embarrassed that he had wounded himself.
Police have also determined that Moore's claim of being robbed earlier in the summer are also false.
Moore faces charges of accidental discharge of a firearm and making a false report to police.

Deputy testing holster for defect that could cause unintentional trigger pull unintentionally shot

Deputy John Parsons, a Berks County, Pennsylvania deputy sheriff, was on the 17th floor of the Berks County Courthouse. He and another deputy were trying to determine if the service holster they used was susceptible to an unintentional trigger pull.
The sheriff had received an alert from the U.S. Marshal Service about the holster, the Blackhawk LV3 tactical holster, stating there was a possible defect. So the deputies, both firearms instructors, wanted to test the holsters.
According to a statement from the sheriff's office the two were trying to determine if the holster was susceptible to a suspect reaching inside the holster and pulling the trigger. "The objective of the training exercise was to prevent a scenario such as this from happening," said the sheriff. "During the training process, another sheriff's deputy was able to reach over and grab Deputy Parsons' weapon, at which time Deputy Parsons' gun accidentally discharged."
Before testing the holster both deputies unloaded their guns. They were unable to duplicate the unintentional trigger pull and were preparing to go back to work. Parsons reloaded his pistol but the second deputy did not realize that.
"Within a few minutes the other deputy said he figured it out and reached for Parsons' gun and it went off," said the sheriff.
Parsons, who was shot in the leg, was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery. The other deputy was placed on desk duty. Both deputies were offered counseling and assistance from the union trauma support team.
The department has decided to no longer use the holsters.

Mother, 22, leaves her concealed weapon on couch. Son, 3, finds gun and shoots himself.

22-year-old Lisa Evans, of Clarksville, Tennessee, took off her concealed weapon, a Kel Tec .380 handgun, and put the gun on a couch. She thought her 3-year-old son was eating at a table in a different area of the apartment so she sat down at the computer, with her back to the couch.
She heard a gunshot and turned to see her son crying and holding his abdomen. The child was taken by Lifeflight helicopter to the medical center in Nashville for surgery. He is alert and talking but in critical condition.
Evans has a concealed weapons permit.
Police are still investigating the incident and charges may be filed against the mother.

18-year-old unintentionally shoots best friend in the head while hanging weapons on a wall

18-year-old Louis Dercqu, of Rineyville, Kentucky, was with his best friend, 19-year-old Shelby Langley. The two teens were hanging weapons on a wall for display in Shelby's room. Louis was handling a .22 caliber rifle when he unintentionally discharged the gun, shooting Shelby in the head.
"It was a very, very tragic accident, no other way of putting it," said Shelby's mother.
"He was a cancer survivor, a volunteer fire fighter, had a job that he loved, got his dream car last year from his mommy and dad, and was getting ready to start Spencerian College this month," added Shelby's godmother. "He had his life planned out."
Police are investigating the incident. Shelby's family does not want charges filed against Louis.
"My heart breaks for my son and the loss, and my heart breaks for what Louis is having to live with," said Shelby's mother.

Father arrested for child abuse after 11-year-old son shoots mother with a gun he found hidden in his own room

37-year-old Daniel Duggan, of Loudon County, Tennessee bought a .22-caliber Derringer handgun for protection. He hid the loaded, unlocked gun between the mattress and the slats of a bunk bed in his 11-year-old son's bedroom. Wednesday night the boy found the gun and unintentionally shot his mother, Stacy, at point blank range in the back of the head.
Duggan told reporters that the three of them were in the same room when the shot was fired. "I didn't see the gun," Duggan said. "I just saw the flash and I knew what it was. He (Duggan's son) said,'Oh God, I thought it was a fake gun.'"
Stacy was taken to the hospital where she is in serious condition.
Duggan has been arrested and charged with child abuse by neglect for leaving a gun where his son could get access to it. All four children in the home have been taken into Department of Children's Services custody.
Police took three guns out of the child's bedroom.
Both husband and wife have arrest records that include DUIs, drug and theft charges. The couple has also faced child abuse charges in the past. In 2011, Duggan was charged in connection with an automobile accident that left his son with motor skills problems. In another incident, the boy was run over by a lawn mower at his home, losing three of his toes.
The current incident is still under investigation and the sheriff's office said Stacy could face the same child abuse charge.

Man shoots neighbor's dog, shrapnel injures woman standing nearby

49-year-old Bing Michael Yee, of Cedar Park, Texas was out walking his dog when a neighbor's dog came out of a house and ran towards him. According to police, Hayes pulled out a handgun "and just starts shooting the dog. I don't know how many rounds he fired, but the dog was killed. People were either in a yard near Yee or across the street from him."
One of the women standing nearby was injured by shrapnel or debris kicked up by the shots. She was taken to the hospital, treated and released.
According to witnesses, when the people outside reacted to Yee shooting the dog he aimed the gun at them and continued to point the gun at another neighbor who stepped outside when he heard the shots. Several people told him, "You need to put your weapon down."
The dog's owner, Amber, told reporters, "Shock, horror, disbelief. I was probably 20 feet from the guy when he unloaded his gun into my dog."
"I've met him. I've been in his house," said Billy, Amber's husband. "His dog has played with my dog. I don't understand why there was so much aggression and violence and the outcome."
Yee, who has a concealed weapons permit, lives on a corner lot with an NRA sticker on his front door. He has told neighbors that he owns dozens of guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Yee was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and deadly conduct discharging a firearm.

Man trying to demonstrate proper way to hold gun unintentionally shoots and kills himself

43-year-old James Gagum, of Conway, South Carolina was watching a movie with friends when an argument broke out about how one of the characters was holding a gun. "That's not how it's done," said Gagum. He picked up a handgun to demonstrate the "proper way". He put the gun to his head and, not realizing the gun was loaded,repeatedly pulled the trigger. On the third pull the handgun fired, shooting Gagum in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
In 2010 Gagum shot and killed a man who broke into his home and demanded money and valuables. Gagum said three men broke into his home and one of them pointed a gun at him and his wife.
"It was him instead of me or me instead of him," Gagum said. "I shot him with a .357 three times, square in the mid-section."
Gagum was not charged in the killing.

Mother charged in connection with 13-year-old son's unintentional shooting of his friend

Last April, 13-year-old Elijah Yussuf, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania was home alone with his friend, 14-year-old Tyler Winstead. Elijah, who had a "striking fondness and familiarity" with his father's .22-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, was playing with the gun. He turned towards Tyler and unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The bullet struck Tyler in the chest and punctured his lung and heart. Tyler died of his injuries.
Elijah's mother, Angelina Deabreu, helped cover up the incident. She hid the gun and perpetuated Elijah's claim of a drive-by shooting. Deabreu was charged last week with hiding the gun, destroying evidence, and lying to investigators.
The district attorney stated that Elijah's relationship with the gun underscored a child-like curiosity fostered by ignorant parenting and a disregard within his home for standard gun-safety measures.
"I don't know if his mother even knew, or was aware that her child knew there was a gun in the house and that he had access to it," said the district attorney. "That's what scares me. That's what's more frightening than anything - parents not knowing and having kids play with guns in the home. This is what happens."
The investigation into the incident revealed that Elijah had showed the gun to friends months prior to the shooting and had also taken pictures of the gun to show to friends.
The gun was kept in an unlocked lockbox so it was easily accessible.
Elijah is scheduled to be sentenced November 2nd on an undisclosed charge in juvenile court.

Florida National Guardsman in town to assist with RNC unintentionally shot with own gun

21-year-old Michael Wdowiak is a Florida National Guardsman out of Ocala, Florida. He is in Tampa with his unit to assist with the Republican National Convention. Thursday night he was in a hotel room in St. Petersburg with three other people. Another Florida Guardsman, 26-year-old Jeffrey Spurr, was checking out the grip on Wdowiak's .357 revolver when he unintentionally discharged the gun.
Wdowiak was struck in the upper chest and hand and taken to the local hospital for surgery on the wounds.
According to police alcohol does not appear to be a factor and currently no charges are being filed.
"The unit is here to assist at the RNC," said a spokesperson for the sheriff. She did not specify what their role at the RNC entailed.
The incident comes just a day after a Secret Service agent assigned to Mitt Romney left her loaded handgun in the bathroom of the campaign plane. The gun was found by a CBS News producer.

Unintentional shot inside van wounds 4-year-old

A mother and her four children were traveling on Highway 54 in Jonesboro, Georgia when the mother heard a pop in the backseat. According to police, "She looked back into the backseat and saw that her 4-year-old daughter was slumped over. She had been shot while she was in the car seat."
The woman pulled over and called 911. The girl, who was shot in the head, was airlifted to the children's hospital in Atlanta. Police said she was in critical condition.
Police found a gun inside the van but would not say if the girl shot herself of if she was shot by one of the other children inside the van.
The incident remains under investigation.

Man shoots gun in air to try and stop people from fighting, bullet hits and kills innocent bystander

21-year-old Anton Louis, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was trying to intimidate some people and also prevent a fight so he fired a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun into the air. The bullet struck 28-year-old Derrion Banks who was standing on the second-story landing in front of his apartment unit.
Derrion was hit in the chest and right arm. He died from the gunshot wounds.
Police received a tip saying the two suspects, Anton Louis and Terrel Johnson, were in a maroon Cadillac at a nearby Walmart. Police stopped the car and asked the driver, Louis' father and the two passengers, Louis and Johnson, if they could search the car for handguns. All three agreed.
Detectives found the .40-caliber handgun wrapped in a sock, stuck in a shoe, inside a suitcase in the trunk.
According to reports, Louis initially admitted to firing the gun in order to stop a fight. He later changed his story and said he did not shoot the gun and challenged detectives to produce an eyewitness to the shooting.
Louis was arrested and charged with one count of murder.

Woman trying to shoot skunk unintentionally shoots husband instead.

A College Station, Texas woman was trying to shoot a skunk that was eating from the cat bowls that she kept outside the back porch. She got her .45-caliber handgun (which she keeps in her purse and for which she has a concealed weapons permit) and shot at the skunk as it was near the bowls.
She missed. The bullet ricocheted off the porch, went through the back door and struck her husband in the abdomen. The bullet missed his vital organs and lodged in his hip. He was airlifted to the hospital in Houston where he was treated and released the next day.
Police will present their findings to the prosecutor.
"Discharging a firearm in that situation was probably not good judgment," said the county sheriff. "It certainly was reckless but I don't know if anyone would be served if any charges were to be filed."

Man unintentionally shoots wife while couple sleeping in bed

San Antonio, Texas police responded to a shooting at an unidentified couple's home in the 7400 block of Pipers Bluff just before 3 a.m. Monday morning.
According to reports, the husband keeps an loaded, unlocked handgun on his nightstand. He told police that somehow the gun was in his bed and that he rolled over on the gun and, not knowing what it was, grabbed it. He unintentionally discharged the gun, shooting his wife in the stomach.
The woman was taken to the hospital in serious condition. Police said they are treating this as an accidental shooting and have not charged the man.

All 9 people injured in Empire State Building shooting were wounded by police

A police investigation has shown that all nine of the people injured in Friday's shooting outside of the Empire State Building were wounded by police gunfire.
The incident began Friday morning when 58-year-old Jeffrey Johnson waited outside his former place of employment and shot and killed his former manager, 41-year-old Steve Ercolino.
Johnson then calmly walked away, around the corner of the Empire State Building to Fifth Avenue. A construction worker who saw the shooting altered police. Two police officers confronted Johnson and when he pulled out a gun they opened fire, killing him.
One officer shot nine rounds while the other shot seven. In addition to killing Johsnon, nine bystanders were injured. Three of the victims suffered gunshot wounds and the other six were hit by fragments. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said, "It appears that all nine of the victims were struck either by fragments or by bullets fired by police."
Six of the wounded were treated and released from the hospital while three of the wounded remain hospitalized.
As Gail Collins writes in her Saturday column,"This isn't surprising; it's only in movies that people are good shots during a violent encounter." Collins continues:

"And these are people trained for this kind of crisis. The moral is that if a lunatic starts shooting, you will not be made safer if your fellow average citizens are carrying concealed weapons.

We are never going to have a sane national policy on guns until the gun advocates give up on the fantasy that the best protection against armed psychopaths bent on random violence is regular people with loaded pistols on their belts."

5-year-old girl unintentionally shoots father

A 5 1/2 year old girl was sleeping in her parents' bedroom in their home in the Rhodes Ranch development in Las Vegas, Nevada. At around 8 a.m. in the morning the little girl took a loaded, unlocked handgun from a nightstand and unintentionally shot her father in the arm.
The bullet lodged in this 38-year-old man's arm and he was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. He is expected to recover.
Police said there were a number of other guns in the house that were locked in a gun safe but the handgun was out in the open.
"This was just a tragic accident that could have been a lot worse," said a police spokesperson.
The police are investigating the incident to determine if charges will be filed against the parents for leaving a gun where a child can gain access. The Department of Family Services has also opened an investigation.

Two men unintentionally shot when man takes gun off of gun rack

44-year-old Allen Lee King, of White County, Arkansas was taking a gun off of a gun rack in a bedroom when he unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet went through the wall into the kitchen and hit two men sitting at the kitchen table.
The bullet struck Jacob Morris, 30, in the shoulder, exited through his neck and went on to hit James Mitchell, 32, in the chest. Both men were taken to the hospital and are expected to recover.
Police are still investigating the incident.

Transit cop unintentionally shoots man during arrest

An unidentified NYPD transit cop unintentionally discharged his weapon during an arrest in Harlem Tuesday night.
Police arrested 47-year-old Richard Pearson, a homeless man with an extensive police record. Pearson allegedly grabbed $40 off of an outside table at a Mexican restaurant.
Two transit police were trying to cuff Pearson when he started struggling. One officer went to put his service gun back in his holster to assist in the arrest when he unintentionally discharged the weapon.
The Sig Sauer 9mm handgun fired one round, hitting Pearson in the right calf.
"I thought my finger was off the trigger," the cop allegedly said. The 30-year-old officer has been with NYPD for five years and has been placed on administrative duties during the investigation.
Pearson was taken to the hospital for treatment and was later charged with petit larceny and resisting arrest.

Gun dealer unintentionally shoots himself while setting up for gun show

40-year-old Eric Kinsinger, a gun dealer from Fort Mill, South Carolina, was setting up his table at the Dixie Gun & Knife Classic show in Charlotte, North Carolina. According to police, Kinsinger unintentionally shot himself with a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun.
"He was taking the gun out to display it and pulled the trigger and it went off," said the local police captain.
Kinsinger was shot in the hand and transported to the local hospital for treatment for the non life-threatening injury.

Man unintentionally shoots self in penis, arrested for illegal firearm possession

36-year-old Tavares Colbert, of Oklahoma City, OK, was on his way to sell a handgun. He told police he had had problems with the gun in the past so he pulled over to make sure the gun was working properly. When he tried to force the slide back he unintentionally discharged the weapon. The bullet hit him in the penis.
Colber was able to drive himself to the hospital.
Police investigating the incident arrested Colbert for being a felon in possession of a firearm. After he was released from the hospital police booked him into the county jail.

Man unintentionally shoots self in butt while watching TV

20-year-old Kyle Bassler, of Derry, New Hampshire, was at a cottage in Rome, Maine. He was hunting a nuisance squirrel with a .22-caliber handgun. He put the handgun in a holster, which was fitted inside his pants, and went back inside the cottage.
The police report doesn't give specifics about how the gun discharged. It reads, "Bassler claimed that he sat in a chair and was watching TV when he heard the gun go off and felt a subsequent burning sensation on his backside. Bassler stood up and realized that the firearm had discharged and that he was, in fact, shot."
He was taken to the hospital where doctors removed the bullet from his buttocks. He is expected to make a full recovery.

For the second time in two years a house on Vermont road is hit by stray bullet.

Two years ago, then 75-year-old Peter Damone was standing on his back porch in Bridport, Vermont when he was hit by a bullet. The .45-caliber bullet was traced to a man half a mile away who was target practicing in his backyard. Damone just barely survived the incident. The bullet severed an artery leading to his tongue and lodged in his neck.
Last week, Damone's neighbor, Rick Scott, found a new bullet lodged in the second-floor office on his home. Scott told police he suspects the bullet came from a coyote hunter who was seen on the road shooting in the direction of his house.
"I am a member of the NRA, a supporter of the Second Amendment and I own and shoot guns," said Scott. "Incidents like this and the tragedy that befell my neighbor Peter not that long ago, cause me to reconsider my position. People that won't refrain from reckless behavior should not be allowed to possess lethal weapons."
Police are still trying to locate the hunter.

Missouri man unintentionally shoots and kills wife

Earl Kuschel, of New Haven, Missouri, was in his work shop, sighting a scope on his 22 caliber rifle. He fired a shot through the open door of the shed at a target in his yard.
Unfortunately, he did not see his wife, 63-year-old Ruth Ann, come around the corner. The bullet struck her in the upper chest.
Earl attempted CPR until the ambulance arrived. Ruth Ann was pronounced dead by the ambulance crew.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son and two grandchildren.

Son buys gun for mother's protection. She unintentionally shoots him.

75-year-old Nellie McCallister, of Columbus, Ohio was worried about a local prowler known as the "Hilltop Creeper." So her son, a former Marine, bought her a .357 Magnum handgun for protection.
Nellie was showing the gun at a backyard gathering. She thought the gun was unloaded and unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet hit her son in the leg.
Nellie's 14-year-old granddaughter told reporters that her grandmother cried all night after the shooting and said she will never again touch a gun.

15-year-old hit in head by stray bullet while riding in car with parents

15-year-old Danielle Sampson, of Ocoee, Florida was driving with her parents Sunday on the way to buy her mother a birthday present. According to Danielle's sister, Baje, the family was driving through Pine Hills when the father heard gunfire coming from two approaching vehicles. The next thing he knew, his daughter was slumped over in the back seat.
Danielle was shot in the back of the head. She is now in Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, unconscious and on a ventilator fighting for her life.

Danielle's family and friends held a prayer vigil on Wednesday. "Stop the killing. Start living. Choose peace," chanted the crowd.
Baje reminded the gathering that "There's a lot of Danielles."
No arrests have been made in the shooting. A reward of $26,000 is offered for information leading to an arrest.

Man unintentionally shoots his friend at Hooters

36-year-old Christopher Bohn, of Manassas, Virginia, was with friends at a Hooters restaurant in Chantilly. According to police, "he had just left an event for which he had to unload his handgun" and decided to reload the gun in the restaurant.
Bohn unintentionally discharged the handgun, shooting his friend in the ankle. The 22-year-old woman was taken to an area hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
Police could not confirm whether or not Bohn had a concealed weapons permit but they did arrest him and charge him with willfully discharging firearms in a public place.

Indoor gun range customer unintentionally shot by another customer having a "problem" with his gun

A customer at the Trading Place Pawn Shop & Indoor Gun Range in Monroe, Georgia was standing at the counter filling out a form to use the indoor gun range when he was unintentionally shot by another customer.
The other customer came in with a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and was speaking with an employee about a problem he was having with the gun. According to police, the man "began to manipulate the slide on the weapon" when he discharged the gun. The bullet struck the victim in the right hip.
The victim had to be airlifted to the hospital where he is listed in serious but stable condition. He has already had two surgeries and faces a long recovery.
The customer who shot the gun has a valid concealed weapons permit.
The victim declined to pursue charges, believing the incident was an accident.