Sunday, May 24, 2015

Boy finds keys to his grandfather's gun safe, takes gun, unintentionally shoots and kills sleeping woman

A 12-year-old Kalamazoo, Michigan boy, who investigators said is "mentally impaired," found the keys to his grandfather's gun safe, unlocked the safe, removed and loaded a shotgun.

According to his grandfather the boy "got up before anybody this morning at 5:30 a.m. He said he was in my pocket trying to get change and he found the gun safe key. It's always locked up, and I always have the key on me."

The grandfather said that when the boy tried to unload the shotgun he unintentionally discharged the gun.  The pellets went through a nearby closet wall and struck a 28-year-old woman who was sleeping in the living room.

The grandfather said "we turned the light on and we could see all the blood. It was only minutes. She was still breathing, but by the time the police got here, she'd passed away."

The boy is staying with a family member.  The grandfather said his grandson is an apprentice hunter and has used guns before.  He said the boy "handled guns very safely and wouldn't touch a gun unless he was told it was okay to pick it up." He added that the boy "doesn't realize what he's done."

Man shoots himself in the groin during gun safety class

A 36-year-old Emmaus, Pennsylvania man was taking a gun safety class at the Bethlehem police gun range. The class was for people who wanted to obtain a concealed weapons permit.

According to police, "While reholstering his gun, the weapon apparently got caught on some fabric from his shirt and it accidentally discharged."

The bullet hit the man in the groin and grazed his thigh.  Police reported that the man suffered some blood loss but was in stable condition, conscious and alert when he was taken to the hospital.

Police declined to identify the man since he is not charged with a crime.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Man looking to buy handgun unintentionally shot

50-year-old Anthony Williamson, of Duluth, Georgia had arranged to buy a handgun from a private seller. Williamson and his friend, Jonathan Jordan, drove to the Academy Sports parking lot in Newnan to meet the seller.

While Jordan was examining the gun he unintentionally discharged the weapon.Williamson was shot in the abdomen. He was airlifted to Atlanta for treatment and was listed in stable condition after surgery.

The County Sheriff's Office said the shooting "appears to be not reckless - just an error in firearm safety."  No charges were filed.

The Sheriff's Office also noted that in Georgia, as in most states, it is legal to sell a handgun in a store parking lot with no background check run and no records kept.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Sheriff's deputy unintentionally shoots mother during wedding ceremony

Cory Golightly is a sheriff's deputy in the McCracken County Sheriff's Department in Kentucky. He was off-duty, attending a wedding with his mother at the Bardwell Baptist Church in Carlisle County when he dropped his gun.

According to witnesses, Golightly was adjusting his jacket and the gun and holster fell out. The gun discharged when it hit the floor. The bullet hit his mother.

Golightly's mother was taken to the hosptial and is said to be in stable condition.

The pianist at the wedding said Golightly was very composed throughout the incident.  "He said, 'Mom, breathe and be calm. Be calm," she said.

Golightly has been placed on paid leave while the incident is investigated.