Ohh Shoot

Brothers playing with what they think is toy gun, tragedy follows

2012-01-30T09:29:00.000-05:00

Three brothers, ages 4, 7 and 13, of Morristown, Tennessee found what they thought was a toy gun in a bedroom in the house where they live with their parents and grandparents. While playing with the .22-caliber handgun the weapon fired, shooting 7-year-old Jaymee Steward in the head.
Jaymee was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville where he underwent surgery. He remained in critical condition but died three days later. It was unclear exactly how the boys found the gun.
According to local police, "After reviewing all evidence obtained during the investigation, current state law and consultation with the District Attorney's office, it has been determined that no criminal charges will be filed in the incident."
Tennessee law prohibits a parent from intentionally, knowingly or recklessly providing a handgun to a juvenile if the parent knows of a substantial risk that such juvenile will use the handgun to commit a felony. Tennessee does not otherwise impose criminal liability on adults who allow children access to firearms.

Ohio man unintentionally shoots his friend at shooting range

2012-01-27T12:38:00.000-05:00

36-year-old Anthony Robinson, of Painesville, Ohio, was at the Sherwin Shooting Sports shooting range in Eastlake. His friend, 36-year-old Anthony Crowe was also at the range. Robinson was attempting to clear his .357 caliber handgun when he unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet passed through the stall wall and struck Crowe who was in the next stall. Crowe was hit in the right side, near his abdomen. He was flown via medical helicopter to a medical center in Cleveland where he required surgery. His condition is unknown.
Ohh shoot.

New bride gives husband handgun as gift, he then unintentionally shoots them both

2012-01-26T12:52:00.000-05:00

Newlywed 22-year-old Tianna Gremore, of Marion Township, Michigan, gave her new husband, 20-year-old Dylan Gremore, a 9mm semiautomatic handgun as a gift. Dylan had the gun a little over a month when he was cleaning the weapon and trying to familiarize himself with the gun. According to police, "He made the major mistake of not taking the clip out, which was fully loaded, before he racked it."
Not realizing that this action had put a round in the chamber, Dylan pulled the trigger. The bullet hit his hand then grazed his forearm and leg before continuing on and hitting his wife's leg.
The couple drove themselves to the hospital where they were treated and released.
Ohh shoot.

Man telling story with gun unintentionally shoots and kills himself

2012-01-25T12:15:00.000-05:00

30-year-old Lee Allan Miars of Myrtle Creek, Orgeon was telling friends a story that involved a gun. As a prop, he was using a semi-automatic handgun. According to witnesses "he had worked the action and dropped the magazine. He then put the gun near his head and fired the weapon, shooting himself." He was taken to the hospital but died of his injuries.
According to the sheriff's office, "We are assuming at this point that he believed the weapon was empty."
Ohh shoot.

Fundraiser at church ends with unintentional shooting

2012-01-24T10:19:00.001-05:00

St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wentzville, Missouri was holding a fundraiser for a cancer patient Saturday night. As the evening was ending and decorations were being taken down people were popping balloons. According to the local police chief, "During the popping of the balloons there was a pop that was unrecognizable and there was a victim of a gunshot."
23-year-old Aaron Dwan had been shot and fell to the floor. Due to all the activity in the room few people realized what had happened.
Dwan was taken to the hospital where he is in serious but stable condition.
The next day a "person of interest" went to police. After interviewing him, police determined the shooting was unintentional. Police have not identified the person nor have they said how the shooting happened.

Teenager who posed with numerous guns on Facebook page unintentionally shoots and kills himself

2012-01-20T11:48:00.000-05:00

19-year-old Jared Hyndrich of Pacific, Missouri has a photo album on his Facebook paged titled "what i do when im bored." The album consists of numerous photos of Jared and his friends posing with handguns and an assault rifle.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Jared was in his room with a friend when he put a handgun to his head and thinking the gun was unloaded, pulled the trigger. Unfortunately, the gun was loaded and it fired one shot, killing Jared.
An autopsy is being conducted but police found no evidence of drugs or alcohol.

Man says bullet from nearby shooting range came through bedroom wall

2012-01-19T14:43:00.000-05:00

Glenn Finch of Chalybeate Springs, North Carolina is concerned after a bullet came through his bedroom wall, ricocheted off the opposite wall and landed on his bed. He says this is the third time this year a bullet has hit his house and he blames a nearby shooting range.
"I have guns, and I support the Second Amendment," Finch said. "But I've read it. Nowhere in there does it say you can shoot into somebody's house."
Operators of the shooting range, Drake Landing, declined to discuss the issue. The local sheriff is investigating the complaint.
Other neighbors are also concerned. "Some days it sounds like a war is breaking out over there," said Kent Jeffries. "My family has lived here for generations. We're not all Yankees who just moved here and are scared by noise. But there are people here who are literally afraid to be outside."
The range was opened as a clay target shooting range in 2006 as part of the state's agritourism program, having been ruled "a bona fide farm activity" by the state agriculture commissioner, and as such is exempt from local zoning ordinances. The state also approved the addition of a pistol and rifle range three years later saying "we can see no reason why a shooting range would be any different from a sporting clays course."
The new rifle range has a two story firing bay. Signs ask shooters to not fire in the direction of residential properties.
Ohh shoot.

Husband mistakes wife for burglar, shoots her

2012-01-18T14:52:00.000-05:00

40-year-old Neleida Vasquez of Miami, Florida went to run some errands with her two children, ages 4 and 8. She forgot something and returned home. When her husband, 39-year-old Larry Valadez, heard noises coming from the first floor he got his gun and went to investigate.
According to police reports, "Once downstairs, he was confronted by Ms. Vasquez at which point he discharged the firearm striking her in the torso area. She was transported to Kendall Regional Trauma Center where she is listed in stable condition."
Police say Mr. Valadez will not be charged in the shooting. But a department detective added, "God forbid if is wasn't his wife, it would have been his child walking in because he wanted to pick up his toy. This could have turned out to be a real tragedy. Of course, we learn from these events, and we're asking, just the community that owns guns, to be very careful and be a little responsible."
Ohh shoot.

Man straps gun to backpack, unintentionally shoots himself when he picks up pack

2012-01-17T16:48:00.000-05:00

21-year-old Joshua Ryan, of Seymour, Tennessee, was in the woods with his brother and his girlfriend. He had a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with birdshot strapped to his backpack. When he picked the backpack up the shotgun unintentionally discharged, shooting him.
Ryan's brother went to get help while Ryan's girlfriend stayed with him in the woods. Reports indicate that the backpack strap was wound through the trigger guard, which could have caused the discharge.
The accident happened about a half a mile into the woods. In order to transport Ryan to the hospital for treatment ambulance services had to use an ATV to take him out of the woods, then transport him to a Lifestar helicopter which then flew Ryan to the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Reports did not indicate where, exactly, Ryan was shot or how much it cost to fly him to the hospital.
Ohh shoot.

Fight between girlfriends ends with unintentional shooting between their boyfriends

2012-01-13T18:06:00.001-05:00

27-year-old Jamie Lloyd of Covington, Georgia went out to dinner with his girlfriend and another couple. The dinner was to celebrate the twenty-first birthday of one of the women. During dinner the women starting arguing. The argument continued after they left the restaurant and went to one of the women's homes. It was then that the other man jumped into the argument, standing up for his girlfriend. This angered Lloyd and the two men began arguing.
Lloyd pulled out a gun, unintentionally discharging the firearm. The bullet grazed the other man's head.
The victim was treated and released. Lloyd was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. The sheriff's department said alcohol was a factor in the incident.
Ohh shoot.

Man shot by friend "messing around" with handgun

2012-01-12T17:35:00.000-05:00

A 21-year-old Cleburne, Texas man was visiting friends when he went outside to smoke a cigarette. As he was standing on the porch his friends were inside "messing around" with handguns. One man decided to practice shooting what he thought was an empty handgun. When he pulled the trigger the gun fired, sending a bullet through the front door and into the man standing on the porch. The bullet went through the victim's left shoulder blade.
The man had to be flown to a hospital in Fort Worth for treatment.
The sheriff is investigating the incident and has yet to charge anyone. "This is a prime example of irresponsible gun ownership and handling," said the sheriff.
Ohh shoot.

Teen runs away after unintentional shooting, returns after seeing mother crying on tv

2012-01-11T17:22:00.000-05:00

View more videos at: http://nbcphiladelphia.com.

17-year-old William Barrow, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was at his home showing his father's handgun to three of his friends. Barrow unintentionally discharged the gun and shot one of the boys in the head. The 16-year-old victim was taken to the hospital where he is listed in critical condition.
After the shooting Barrow got scared and ran away from home. He turned himself in to police after seeing his mother crying on television. Police had issued an arrest warrant for Barrows for aggravated assault but do consider the shooting accidental.

Iowa woman unintentionally shot and killed by 10-year-old

2012-01-10T11:27:00.000-05:00

An autopsy performed by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation has confirmed that 41-year-old Amy Hettinger of Dundee, Iowa died of an unintentional gunshot injury.
Police were called to Amy's home on Thursday were they found she had been shot. According to reports, "D.C.I. determined that Hettinger had been shot by a 10-year-old inside the house who had been handling a loaded handgun. The gun belonged to another family member."
Police have not identified the relationship between the 10-year-old and Amy nor have they said who the gun belonged to. The case is being sent to the district attorney for a review of possible charges.

2 charged with murder when their gunfight kills innocent bystander

2012-01-06T10:26:00.000-05:00

20-year-old Jason Denison and 20-year-old Jonathan Flores, both of New Bedford, Massachusetts, have been charged with murder in connection with a gun battle last month that fatally injured an innocent bystander.
The incident began when a crowd gathered to watch a prearranged fistfight between two women. An argument broke out between Denison and Flores and another man. Reports indicate that Denison chased the two men and shot at them with a handgun. Flores fired back. The bullet missed Denison but did strike bystander 20-year-old Michael Pina. Pina was shot in the head and died four days later.
Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter said that a 2001 state appeals court case makes it clear that Denison and Flores "can and should be charged with murder."
The case, Commonwealth vs. Santiago, said a defendant who engages in a gun battle where a bystander is killed can be held liable for homicide even if the defendant's opponent fired the fatal shot. The ruling stated: "By choosing to engage in a shootout, a defendant may be the cause of a shooting by either side because the death of a bystander is a natural result of a shootout, and the shootout could not occur without participation from both sides."
Denison has also been charged with armed assault with intent to murder, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building and obstruction of justice. Flores has also been charged with possession of a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearms and possession of a firearm without an FID card.
Ohh shoot.

Weber State University student unintentionally shoots himself while walking across campus

2012-01-05T17:16:00.000-05:00

A 24-year-old Weber State University student was walking across the Ogden, Utah campus when a gun in his pants pocket unintentionally discharged.
News reports do not indicate why the gun discharged but do note that the student was shot in his left leg. He was taken to the local hospital where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
WSU director of media relations was quick to point out that the student had a concealed weapons permit and was within his legal rights to be carrying a concealed weapon on campus. Utah is one of the few states that allow guns on campus. (See www.armedcampuses.org)
However, the university spokesperson did not comment on why, despite having a concealed weapons permit, the student would carry a loaded, unlocked handgun loose in his pants pocket.
Ohh shoot.

Man shoots himself while using the bathroom

2012-01-04T12:01:00.000-05:00

51-year-old Darrel Johnson of New Haven, Connecticut bought a small caliber handgun for his person protection. At first he put the gun in his pants pocket but then decided to tuck the gun into his waist band. Unfortunately, he forgot that he had moved the gun and when he went to use the bathroom the gun fell to the floor and discharged. The bullet struck him in the leg.
When police arrived Johnson said he had been shot in an attempted robbery. But he later changed his story.
Johnson is a convicted felon and could face charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Ohh shoot.

Woman walking her dogs in the woods shot when hunter thought dog was a deer

2012-01-03T16:07:00.000-05:00

66-year-old Cheryl Blair, of Norton, Massachusetts was walking her two dogs on a wooded trail behind her four-acre property when she was shot by a local hunter who mistook her dog for a deer.
In the 911 call released by Norton police 50-year-old John Bergeron, Cheryl's neighbor who is also a state trooper, is heard telling the dispatcher "She's out here with two golden retrievers. I just had a deer come by and I thought it came by again."
Bergeron was hunting in the closing minutes of hunting season. He called 911 at 4:55 p.m. Under state law, hunting is permitted for 30 minutes after sunset, which was at 4:24 p.m. that day.
Cheryl's family report that she will have a permanent limp from the fragmented bullet in her fractured pelvis. She remains in the hospital in stable condition.
No charges have been filed against Bergeron. Police have called the incident an accident and say Bergeron is a licensed hunter and no laws or hunting license violations occurred.
Cheryl's husband said hunters need to be careful about their target before shooting.
Ohh shoot.

12-year-old boy in coma after being shot in head by New Year's celebration gunfire

2012-01-02T14:49:00.001-05:00

12-year-old Diego Duran, of Ruskin, Florida, was sitting in his front yard with his parents and family friends watching fireworks on New Year's eve when he fell to the ground, bleeding from his nose and eyes. "He just dropped," his father told reporters. "All of a sudden, hell broke loose - blood all over the place."
His parents did not realize Diego had been shot when they rushed him to the local hospital. There the doctors discovered not only that Diego had been shot, but that the bullet remained lodged in his head. The bullet went into the top of Diego's head and embedded itself in his cheek.
Diego is in a coma and is listed in critical condition. Police are trying to determine where the bullet came from but say it could have traveled miles.
Just last week, officials in Miami launched a media campaign, One Bullet Kills the Party, to implore the public to abandon the tradition of firing bullets into the air to celebrate New Year's Eve. "They can fall on people, they can fall on children," said Miami-Dade commissioner.
Hillsborough County's sheriff also commented on the dangers of celebration gunfire when talking to reporters about Diego. "Nationally it's a huge issue," he said. "What somebody thinks is a cheap form of gun and entertainment, it has potentially catastrophic consequences."
Arizonans for Gun Safety also has a campaign against celebration gunfire, "Celebration Gunfire Kills."

Man unintentionally shoots his uncle while showing off his Glock handgun

2011-12-30T12:42:00.000-05:00

A 27-year-old Pearland, Texas man wanted to show his uncle his Glock semi-automatic handgun so they went into the bedroom where the gun was stored. The gun was loaded and the owner removed the magazine. However, he didn't realize that there was still a bullet in the chamber. As he pulled back the slide the gun discharged. The bullet went into his uncle's thigh, passed through his leg and continued into a bedroom dresser.
The gun was reportedly loaded with hollow-tip bullets but fortunately the bullet didn't expand when it passed through the victim's leg.
The victim was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released. Police classified the incident as an accident and said no charges will be filed.
Ohh shoot.

Gun in purse of 17-year-old unintentionally discharged inside Wyoming Starbucks

2011-12-29T12:33:00.000-05:00

A 17-year-old Cheyenne, Wyoming girl's father gave her a double-barrel .38 special Derringer pistol and encouraged her to carry it for protection. However, he neglected to also give her any kind of formal firearms training. Her mother knew her daughter had the gun and even though she doesn't particularly like guns, she told the girl to "point it at a bad person" if she was ever in trouble.
The girl was planning to visit friends in Laramie so she stuck the loaded pistol, with the safety off, in her purse.
Early Monday morning while at a local Starbucks, the teen dropped her purse and the gun inside discharged. The bullet narrowly missed a customer, hit the west wall of the store, bounced back to the east and rolled under the coffee counter.
Two Cheyenne police officers were in the store at the time and drew their pistols when they heard the gunshot. They arrested the teen for possession of a firearm by a juvenile. There is no state law prohibiting giving a handgun to a minor. The gun was returned to the teen's parents.
Ohh shoot.

Intoxicated woman unintentionally shoots husband while investigating noise outside house

2011-12-28T13:41:00.001-05:00

54-year-old Connie Tolbert and her husband, 52-year-old Darryl Tolbert of Three Rivers, Michigan had both been drinking at their home when they heard a suspicious noise outside their home.
Darryl told Connie to get her gun, a .380-caliber handgun, and the two went outside to investigate. While the couple was standing about three feet apart Darryl made a motion toward his wife that prompted her to fire her gun. Darryl was wounded in the right shoulder. He was treated and released at a local hospital.
Connie was arrested and charged with use of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol, careless discharge of a firearm causing injury and three other firearm charges.
"I think alcohol is definitely the main factor," said a police spokesperson.
Ohh shoot.

Teen posing for picture with shotgun unintentionally shot

2011-12-27T11:14:00.000-05:00

Several teens were passing around a 12-gauge shotgun, posing for pictures, Christmas Eve inside a house in Moline, Illinois when the gun unintentionally discharged. 18-year-old Zachary Inman of Rock Island, IL was shot in the lower right leg and ankle.
Inman was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery for his injuries. The injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Also at the gathering was 18-year-old Matthew Nazari who has been taken into police custody and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Ohh shoot.

Man cleaning high-powered rifle unintentionally shoots and kills girl across the street

2011-12-26T10:12:00.001-05:00

23-year-old James Blackwell, of Chadbourn, North Carolina was cleaning his high-powered rifle when he unintentionally discharged the weapon. The bullet traveled across the street and struck three people who were standing in the driveway, preparing to go on a trip to Myrtle Beach.
First the bullet hit 16-year-old Jahmesha McMillan, passing through her and continuing on into her cousin, 16-year-old Jasmine Thar. Bullet fragments also hit the girls' aunt, 42-year-old Treka McMillan. Jasmine was pronounced dead at the hospital. Jahmesha is listed in critical condition after undergoing surgery. Treka was treated for her injuries and released.
Police took Blackwell into custody but released him later in the day. He has not been charged, but police are continuing to investigate.
"At this point, it appears accidental, but we're investigating, not taking anything for granted," said the Chadbourn police chief. "No mater what, it's tragic, that's all I can say."

Hunting instructor brings loaded handgun to class, student unintentionally shoots it

2011-12-23T15:25:00.000-05:00

A hunter education instructor in Soda Springs, Idaho brought a 9mm handgun and ammunition to his class to use as a teaching tool. After the demonstration one of the students picked up the gun. Unaware the gun was loaded, the student discharged the weapon. The bullet struck a deer head mounted on the wall.
Idaho Department of Fish and Game prohibits live ammunition in a hunter education classroom. The instructor has been dismissed.
Ohh shoot.

Man shoots at mouse, misses, hits roommate. Police investigate, arrest 3rd roommate on sex charges

2011-12-22T12:50:00.001-05:00

To quote from www.mediatite.com - "Paul Klunzer's four-month relationship with a 13 year-old girl ended like many of these illegal relationships do: with his roommate shooting at a mouse with a handgun, missing, hitting a third roommate in the chest, and having police find the girl hiding in a closet in the course of the investigation."
It all started around 2 a.m. when a 27-year-old Taylorsville, Utah man saw a mouse in the kitchen. He took a 9mm handgun and shot at the mouse. He missed the mouse and the bullet went through the wall and into the bathroom. His 28-year-old roommate was in the bathroom at the time and the bullet struck him directly in the chest.
While police were conducting a routine search of the house they came across a 13-year-old girl hiding in a basement closet. Turns out the girl was having a relationship with a third roommate, 34-year-old Paul Klunzer.
Because the girl was underage, Klunzer was arrested on suspicion of multiple counts of rape, sodomy and aggravated sexual abuse.
The roommate who was shot was taken to the hospital, initially in serious condition but later upgraded to fair condition.
The roommate who did the shooting was not charged with any crime. Police said that alcohol was a factor in the shooting.
Ohh shoot.

Amish girl killed by stray bullet fired by man cleaning his rifle

2011-12-21T11:12:00.001-05:00

15-year-old Rachel Yoder of Wayne County, Ohio was traveling home after attending a Christmas party when she was struck in the head by a stray bullet. Rachel, who is Amish, was driving a horse-drawn buggy. The Holmes County Sheriff believes the bullet was shot by a man cleaning his muzzle-loading rifle more than a mile away.
Rachel's brother found her when he saw the horse walking in circles. Rachel died of her injuries.
The sheriff's department began an intensive investigation and after four days a local family went to the sheriff to say a member of their family had been cleaning his rifle and had fired it into the air around the time Rachel was shot.
State investigators are checking the rifle for a ballistics match. "In all probability, it looks like an accidental shooting," said the sheriff. No charges have,as yet, been filed.

Man shot in the neck by neighbors shooting at pumpkins and paper targets

2011-12-20T12:12:00.001-05:00

William Vance, of Bowie County, Texas was on the back side of his property when he was shot in the neck. The bullet came from a nearby wooded area.
Police investigated and found a group of 11 people, ages 12 to 52, taking turns shooting a 12 gauge shotgun, a .22 rifle, a .380 pistol, and a 9mm pistol. They were shooting at pumpkins, paper targets on a tree, and a board.
Police are still determining if criminal charges will be filed. Vance is in the hospital in stable condition.
Ohh shoot.

After being unintentionally shot hunter reevaluates the idea of killing animals

2011-12-19T14:27:00.000-05:00

53-year-old Thomas Mech was deer hunting with his brother in Monkton, Maryland. After climbing down from a tree stand, Mech reached for his shotgun and unintentionally shot himself above his left knee. Mech was flown to the hospital in Baltimore where he spent 11 days and underwent a number of surgeries to help save his leg. He still faces more surgery and expects to be in rehabilitation for six months to a year.
Mech says that the accident has given him a new perspective on hunting. "I always believed that as long as I made a good clean kill, the deer didn't suffer. I believe now they do suffer. They feel what I felt. The difference is that I got picked up and taken to the hospital."
"I remember everything," he added. "It was immense pain. I looked down and saw big chunks of bone and muscle tore up and I yelled for my brother. I reached down in my fanny pack and I took out my hoodie and shoved it in the hole in my pants leg and waited for him."
Mech considers himself lucky he wasn't shot int he femoral artery which could have led to his bleeding out in minutes. He is reevaluating how and if he continues hunting.
"I'm not rushing to get back into the woods," he said.
Ohh shoot.

Albuquerque woman warns of defect with Taurus gun after unintentional shooting

2011-12-16T15:55:00.001-05:00

Judy Price, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, bought a Taurus PT Millenium handgun for protection. One day, while taking off her sweatshirt her concealed weapons waistband holster fell. When the gun hit the floor it discharged. The bullet went into her thigh, through her colon and intestines and lodged in her liver. Judy suffered months of complications and surgeries.
She is now on a crusade to warn people about this defect with the Taurus handgun. She says she knows of at least five other cases where a similar thing happened. Judy has made fliers that she distributes at concealed weapon carry classes and plans to pass them out a gun shows.
Because guns are not regulated for safety by the Consumer Product Safety Commission there is no mechanism in place to force gun manufacturers to recall defective guns or to demand that safety features be incorporated into the design of new guns. A gun that fires when it is dropped would clearly not meet product safety standards.
Ohh shoot.

Toy fund in memory of boy killed at machine gun shoot makes 2nd annual donation

2011-12-15T17:28:00.001-05:00

In October 2008, 8-year-old Christopher Bizilj went with his father and older brother to a Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo held at the Westfield Sportsman's Club in Massachusetts. While firing a fully automatic 9mm micro-Uzi submachine gun Christopher lost control of the weapon. The gun recoiled and he was shot in the head. Christopher was taken to Baystate Children's Hospital where he died of his injuries.
Last year Christopher's aunt, Lisa Wargo, helped found the Christopher Bizilj Memorial Fund. The Fund collects toys which are then donated to the children who are patients at Baystate hospital.
"Baystate Children's Hospital was so good to us at that tragic time," said Wargo. "The goal of this memorial fund is to provide toys for its patients and to help continue the hospital's bereavement box program to help parents deal with their loss."

The Fund has just completed their 2nd annual toy drive and will soon be delivering toys to Baystate hospital. The family hopes that one benefit of the memorial fund will be to associate Christopher's memory with something positive instead of the tragic way he died.

Another dog shoots hunter

2011-12-14T16:15:00.000-05:00

78-year-old Billy Brown of Pasco County, Florida was returning from an early morning deer hunting outing with his friend and his bulldog, Eli. They were driving down a bumpy road when the dog knocked over a high-powered Browning .308-caliber rifle.
The gun discharged and the bullet hit Brown in the right leg. It struck his bone and damaged the femoral artery. Brown lost a lot of blood and is currently in the hospital in critical condition.
Brown's sister said he loves his dog, Eli. "His prized possession is this dog and it was totally an accident what happened," she said. "If Eli could talk he would say 'I'm so sorry.'"

Two men target practicing questioned in middle school students' shooting

2011-12-13T15:31:00.000-05:00

Two middle school students, ages 13 and 14, at Harwell Middle School in Edinburg, Texas were trying out for the basketball team when they were shot in the school's parking lot. One student was hit in his right armpit and the other was struck in the right side of his upper torso.
"This seems like a freak accident," said a spokesperson for the school district.
Two men who were target practicing on an adjacent ranch were questioned by police.
"We feel certain that the shots came from afar," said the local sheriff.
The men target practicing were in the right line of fire to hit the students, but the bullets would have traveled almost half a mile.
Also questioned was a man who was hunting nearby with an assault rifle. He remains in custody and could be charged with trespassing, weapons violations, and immigration charges.
The student who was shot under the arm was going for a layup at the time. He is in stable condition at the hospital. The other student was shot in the back while waiting to try out and is in critical condition with a bullet embedded in an organ.
Ohh shoot.

Man injured in unintentional shooting has leg amputated on his birthday

2011-12-09T14:18:00.001-05:00

27-year-old Joseph Bingham and his older brother Seth, 31, of Juneau, Alaska had just finished a "fun day at the gun range." As they were driving home Seth was riding in the front seat of the pickup truck attempting to unload his pistol when he unintentionally discharged the weapon. The bullet hit Joseph in the leg.
Seth made a tourniquet for his brother's leg out of materials in the truck. According to their father, "Even though his brother shot him, it's also his brother that saved his life."
Seth was medavaced to a hospital in Seattle, Washington were doctors removed Joseph's right leg below the knee. A few days later, on Joseph's birthday, doctors were forced to remove the rest of his leg, about six inches above the knee.
The family has set up an account to help retrofit Joseph's home in Juneau for his new disability.

Employee at gun shop unintentionally discharges weapon, wounds man in business next door

2011-12-08T14:54:00.001-05:00

40-year-old John Luebano, an employee of The Bullet Hole gun shop in Jourdanton, Texas, was unloading a 9mm handgun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon. The bullet went through the wall and into the business next door, Revolution Gymnastics. The bullet then ricocheted off a wall and struck a gymnastics coach in the eye. The coach, 31-year-old Joe Gonzalez, was treated and released at a local hospital.
A woman whose two daughters attend class at the gymnastics studio said Gonzalez was teaching tumbling lessons when he suddenly grabbed his eye, which was bleeding, and said he couldn't see.
Parents were concerned when the gun shop recently opened up next door to the studio. "It could have been one of our kids," said one mother. "Someone could have ended up dead."
Police said the gun shop employee would probably not face any charges, calling the incident an accident. Adding that there have been no other problems or incidents at the shop in the short time it's been opened.
Ohh shoot.

Police officer unintentionally discharges gun during drug raid, another officer fires back

2011-12-06T14:58:00.001-05:00

Baltimore, Maryland city and county police were working together to arrest 38-year-old Vernon Jackson on marijuana possession and distribution charges. When they entered the residence where Jackson worked as a caretaker a Baltimore County police officer unintentionally discharged his weapon. The bullet hit a Baltimore City officer in the arm. Investigators believe that the city officer shot back, believing he was in danger.
According to the police investigating the incident, "Preliminarily, the investigation would indicate the Baltimore Police Department detective fired several rounds in response to the perceived threat."
A local television station reported finding at least five bullet holes inside the residence. No one else was injured in the gunfire and the city officer was taken to the hospital for treatment. The county officer was placed on paid administrative leave, pending the completion of the investigation.
The homeowner said she had no idea her caretaker had drugs. She was also upset because the police told her they would not pay for the damage the gunfire caused to her home.
Ohh shoot.

Three injured over the weekend in separate Iowa hunting accidents

2011-12-05T11:31:00.001-05:00

Three people were shot and injured in separate hunting accidents this weekend in Iowa.
35-year-old Benjamin Parker, of Grinnell, IA, shot himself in the foot when his gun became tangled in some bags he was carrying. Parker had just finished hunting for the day and while trying to free the gun Parker unintentionally discharged the weapon. He was taken to a hospital in Des Moines with a non-life threatening injury.
25-year-old Ryan Mills, from Altoona, IA was shot when a deer ran between him and other hunters in his group. The bullet passed through the deer and hit Mills in the thigh. Mills was airlifted to the hospital in Des Moines where he was treated for his injury.
38-year-old Thomas Burns, of Waterloo, IA, was shot in the midsection when one of the people he was hunting with went to shoot a running deer. The bullet missed the deer and struck Burns instead. Burns was hunting with 21 other people when the incident occurred. He was airlifted to the hospital in Des Moines where he is in stable condition.
"Hunters need to plan the hunt and then hunt the plan so that all of the hunters know where the other members of their party will be," said Iowa Department of Natural Resources Safety Officer. "Shooting at deer running between members of a hunting party is the number one cause of shooting related injuries during shotgun deer season."
Ohh shoot.

He told the police he thought the gun wasn't loaded

2011-12-02T14:55:00.001-05:00

19-year-old Brandon Willis of Dallas, Texas, told police he didn't think the .38 caliber handgun was loaded when he pointed the gun at his roommate and pulled the trigger. Willis said he was talking with his roommate, 18-year-old Daveon Johnson, explaining "how he'd been shot in the past" when he pointed the gun and pulled the trigger several times. The gun discharged, striking Johnson in the upper right side of his back. Johnson was taken to the hospital where he died of his injuries.
Willis has been charged with manslaughter. Police are investigating other elements which may have contributed to the incident, including the possible use of drugs or alcohol.
Ohh shoot.

Man who liked to scare girlfriend with gun unintentionally shoots and kills himself

2011-12-01T11:32:00.001-05:00

When 26-year-old Nathan Grasa of Middletown, Ohio starts drinking he likes to get his gun out and scare his live-in girlfriend. In February he was arrested for "inducing panic" after one such incident. But Sunday things didn't go quite the way Grasa had planned.
While his girlfriend, his 4-year-old daughter, and another women were in the apartment, Grasa got out his gun. Thinking the safety was on he put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. Unfortunately, for Grasa, the safety wasn't on and he shot himself. He died at the scene.
Police have ruled the fatal shooting an accident.
Ohh shoot.

Dog shoots duck hunter in the buttocks

2011-11-30T15:04:00.001-05:00

46-year-old Robert Cottingham of Brigham City, Utah was duck hunting with his friend. The two were sitting in a boat while a hunting dog jumped in and out of the boat, retrieving birds. As the dog climbed back into the boat his paw caught the trigger of a 12-gauge shotgun, unintentionally discharging the gun. The pellets hit Cottingham in the buttocks.
He was taken to the local hospital where 27 pellets were removed.
Ohh shoot.

Woman unintentionally discharges gun in shopping bag, dies

2011-11-29T15:47:00.001-05:00

35-year-old Elizabeth Moorehead of Port St. Lucie, Florida was bringing her husband's gun inside their home for him. He was going out and didn't want to take his .38-caliber derringer handgun so he gave the loaded, unlocked gun to Elizabeth. She put it inside a canvas shopping bag and went inside the house. While she was in the kitchen with her daughter she went to take the gun out of the canvas bag. She unintentionally discharged the weapon and was shot in the mid chest area.
She was rushed to the local hospital in critical condition but died of her injuries. Police say the incident appears to be an accidental shooting.
News reports do not give the age of the daughter who witnessed her mother being shot.

Man unintentionally shoots and kills friend while hunting, then takes his own life

2011-11-28T09:35:00.001-05:00

Friends Benjamin Birch, 39, and Timothy Bolognani, 49, of Readsboro, Vermont were deer hunting with another friend on Saturday. They were chasing a deer that Birch had shot. Bolognani fired again at the deer when he heard Birch shout out. He came across his friend, dead on the ground. According to police, "a distraught Bolognani used his rifle to take his own life."
Birch's mother told reporters that the two were "best friends and professional hunters." She also said she is satisfied that her son's shooting was accidental.
Police continue to investigate and an autopsy will be performed this week but police say foul play is not suspected.

Man unintentionally shoots co-worker while showing off handgun

2011-11-23T18:19:00.000-05:00

21-year-old Byron Bigelow of Bridgeport, Connecticut, brought a .40-caliber handgun to work at a Fairfield motorcycle repair shop. While he was showing the gun to a coworker another employee walked into the room and told Bigelow to put the gun away. According to police, the man had just warned Bigelow to be careful when Bigelow unintentionally discharged the weapon, striking the man in the chest and right arm.
Bigelow drove the victim to the hospital where he underwent surgery. He was listed in stable condition.
Bigelow told police he had found the gun near where he lives. The gun was reported lost in March 2010. Bigelow was charged with assault and illegal possession of a handgun.
"We're just thankful the victim survived," said a police spokesperson. "This is a clear reminder how dangerous guns are."
Ohh shoot.

Man unintentionally shoots girlfriend while putting handgun away

2011-11-22T18:06:00.000-05:00

An unidentified San Antonio, Texas man in his 20s was concerned when he heard someone knocking on the door of his apartment Friday night. He responded by getting out his 9mm handgun and "racked it so it would fire if he pulled the trigger." He went to bed that night, leaving the loaded gun, with the bullet in the chamber, on the coffee table next to the living room futon. The next afternoon he was watching television and decided to put the gun away. According to police, he grabbed the gun and "didn't realize it was loaded and accidentally pulled the trigger."
The bullet hit his girlfriend, also in her 20s, as she came walking around the corner in the apartment. She was struck in the stomach. When medical help arrived the woman was barely conscious but did manage to say she couldn't feel her left leg. She was taken to the hospital where she was listed in critical condition.Police said the man will not face charges because "everything came together and it was an accident."
Ohh shoot.

Criminal justice professor unintentionally shoots himself before class

2011-11-21T14:37:00.001-05:00

72-year-old Jack Carney is a retired New York City police officer and currently a criminal justice teacher at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University. Last week, while getting ready to give a test to his class, he went into the hallway and was attempting "to safeguard his handgun." During this process he unintentionally discharged the gun, shooting himself in the leg. According to reports "the round entered and remained in his right leg."
Carney's students came to his aid, calling 911 and stayed with him until the ambulance arrived. He is expected to make a full recovery.
According to campus officials the school has a strict no weapons policy. As a former police officer Carney is legally allowed to carry a loaded, hidden gun in public. But it is still unclear if he was allowed to have the gun on campus.
Students told the newspaper they had no idea why Carney would be carrying a gun on campus. "He would be more careful, you would think," said one of his students.
Ohh shoot.

15-year-old steals assault rifle, unintentionally shoots himself in the head

2011-11-18T15:44:00.001-05:00

Three teenagers from Houlton, Maine, ages 13, 15, and 18, broke into Mac's Trading Post on Tuesday night. They used a rock to break the glass in the front door and then used a hunting rifle from the store to break the glass in the display case. They stole two assault rifles and two .40-caliber semiautomatic handguns from the display case, and also took 100 rounds of ammunition for the assault rifles.
According to police the boys stole the guns because they planned to use them to rob a bank. While the 15-year-old was loading one of the assault rifles in preparation for an armed confrontation with police, he unintentionally discharged the gun, shooting himself in the head. The bullet grazed his forehead and scalp area. When police arrived they found him conscious but bleeding profusely from his injury. He was taken to local hospital and then transferred to a regional medical center for treatment.
Police were able to recover all the guns and ammunition. The 13-year-old and 18-year-old have been taken into custody and charged in the burglary. The 15-year-old is still in the hospital and hasn't yet been charged.
Ohh shoot.

Gun owner in teen's fatal shooting said he didn't know gun was loaded

2011-11-17T10:46:00.001-05:00

16-year-old Zachary Blanchard of Watertown, New York was holding a .30-06 rifle by its barrel when the gun unintentionally discharged, shooting him in the head. Zachary died of his injuries. The owner of the gun, 18-year-old Douglas Patridge, was arraigned Wednesday on a misdemeanor charge of possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
According to Patridge and other witnesses, the teenagers were making room for another passenger in the backseat of an extended cab pickup truck. Patridge asked Zachary to pass him the rifle. As Zachary picked up the gun by the barrel, which was pointed at this head, the gun discharged.
Police speculate that a protruding object in the back seat could have snagged the trigger and caused it to discharge. The gun was equipped with a safety, but the safety was not engaged. Patridge told police he had been hunting two days before the shooting, which is why the rifle and a shot gun were in the truck. But he thought the rifle was not loaded when he put the gun on the floor of the back seat.

Father unintentionally shoots son at indoor shooting range

2011-11-16T14:44:00.001-05:00

An unidentified Taylosville, Utah man was with his 16-year-old son at Doug's Shoot 'n Sports indoor shooting range. The father was trying to put a loaded handgun away in a case. According to the store manager, "As he was securing the gun in his case, he attached the strap around the hand and the gun went off."
The bullet hit the teen's pinkie and then struck his abdomen. The teen is expected to make a full recovery.
"The guy learned an easy lesson the hard way," said the manager. "He became, I believe, a little complacent or a little mistaken in his practices, and his gun accidentally went off and hit his son."
The man called his wife on the phone and apologized profusely, he also called his son in the hospital and apologized. Police say the shooting was accidental and don't plan to file any charges.

Man watching gun training video unintentionally shoots friend

2011-11-15T16:57:00.001-05:00

Two friends, ages 22 and 23, of Mesa, Arizona were watching a gun training video on how to properly field strip (take apart, clean, lubricate, reassemble)a Glock handgun. The 23-year-old decided to try and remove the slide, but didn't realize there was a round in the chamber. When he pulled the trigger to disengage the slide the firearm discharged, shooting his friend in the back of the leg.
The man was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police consider the shooting an accident and don't plan on pressing any charges.
Ohh shoot.

Man unintentionally shoots himself in front of his children, dies from injuries.

2011-11-14T17:36:00.001-05:00

An unidentified 45-year-old Spotsylvania County, Virginia man was sitting in his minivan with his children waiting for his wife to return a DVD to the local Giant Food Store. The wife hear a pop and ran back to the minivan where her husband told her he thought he'd shot himself. By the time emergency personnel arrived on the scene the man had lost a significant amount of blood and was already unconscious. He was pronounced dead at the local hospital.
The initial police investigation indicated that when the man tried to unbuckle his seat belt he hit the trigger of his .40-caliber Glock handgun and unintentionally shot himself in the hip. It is not clear if the gun was in his pocket or in a holster.
Reports do not indicate the ages of the children who were in the minivan when their father shot himself.

17-year-old buys handgun, unintentionally shoots self in head

2011-11-11T09:33:00.001-05:00

An unidentified 17-year-old Clearlake Oaks, California boy purchased a .22-caliber handgun. He told his stepfather about the purchase but allegedly did not give further information. A few weeks after the purchase the boy was in his bedroom handling the gun when he dropped it. When the handgun hit the floor it discharged, striking the boy in the top of the head.
When police arrived the boy was conscious and alert and able to tell them what happened. The boy's parents and a friend who were also in the home corroborated the account. Police secured the handgun and two boxes of ammunition from the teen's room. The teen was flown by rescue helicopter to the hospital where he was reported in stable condition.
Police are investigating whether to file charges against the stepfather for neglect and criminal storage of a firearm. They are also looking into charges against the teen for purchase and possession of the handgun.
Ohh shoot.

Off-duty police officer unintentionally discharges handgun inside Milwaukee mall

2011-11-10T08:29:00.000-05:00

An unidentified off-duty police officer was shopping at the Southridge Mall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Wednesday afternoon. As he reached into his pocket looking for money to make a purchase he knocked a handgun that he had stuck in his waistband. Ultimately, he lost control of the weapon and it discharged. The bullet hit the marble floor and shattered. No one was injured.
As local newsradio WTMJ points out "the incident is also raising questions about the new concealed carry law." One shopper commented, "If you've got a police officer who can't handle it, and you put all these people with concealed carry and weapons in their pockets can you imagine the danger and the safety issues that are going to come about through this."
The mall manager says the no concealed weapons are allowed in Southridge Mall, even after the recent change in Wisconsin law.
Police are investigating the incident and report that the officer in question is getting "a review of proper safety protocol."
Ohh shoot.

Two injured, one killed in Maine hunting accidents

2011-11-09T08:10:00.000-05:00

46-year-old Peter Kolofsky, or Sebago, Maine, was hunting alone not far from his house when he was shot and killed by another hunter, 61-year-old William Briggs of Windham, Maine. Kolofsky, who was shot in the chest, was wearing state required hunter orange hat and vest. The shooting was reportedly from a significant distance and Kolofsky was pronounced dead at the scene.
Maine law requires a person responsible for a hunting fatality must provide a blood sample to check for alcohol or drugs. Police have not released the results of Briggs' test. Kolofsky is survived by his wife and two children, ages 15 and 9.
Two other hunting accidents were reported on Friday. A 60-year-old man was target practicing in the woods in Casco when he was shot in the stomach by a 29-year-old man who was hunting in the area. The man was transported to the local hospital where he was listed in critical condition.
In the second incident, a 26-year-old man was shot in the lower leg by his 47-year-old hunting companion. The man was taken into surgery at a local hospital, his condition was not known.
In another hunting mishap, a Magalloway man was walking in the woods with his German shepherd when a Dixfield hunter who was deer hunting shot the dog thinking it was a coyote. A spokesperson for the Warden Service says this was a case of a hunter not practicing 100 percent identification.
Ohh shoot.

Concealed weapons permit holder unintentionally shoots himself in parking lot at Patriots game

2011-11-08T08:49:00.000-05:00

An unidentified 50-year-old man was on his way into a Patriots game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts when he read on the back of his ticket that firearms are not allowed inside the stadium. The man is a Massachusetts resident and holds a valid permit to carry a loaded, hidden gun in public. At the time he was carrying a handgun. He returned to his car to leave the gun there.
While sitting in his car attempting to unload the gun he unintentionally discharged the weapon, shooting himself in the leg. The bullet went through his leg near the knee. The man was taken to the local hospital where he was listed in stable condition. Police secured the gun.
While firearms are not allowed in the stadium there is no official rule against having them in the parking lot. According to a spokesman for the Patriots, "There is not a security checkpoint that would prohibit that from being in your vehicle, and we don't have anything written up in terms of what is allowed or what isn't allowed in the parking lot."
Foxborough police would not confirm or deny whether alcohol was involved in the incident.
Ohh shoot.

Teen shot at sleepover when friend takes loaded shotgun off wall rack.

2011-11-07T14:36:00.000-05:00

A 14-year-old Phoenix, Arizona boy was having a sleepover at a friend's house with two other boys. While his friend was in the kitchen helping his mother with dinner, the two other boys went into one of the bedrooms and closed the door. The room had a gun rack on the wall and one of the boys took a shotgun down. Thinking it was not loaded, he racked the slide and pulled the trigger.
The gun fired, striking the other boy in the leg, hitting a major artery. The boy was rushed to the hospital where he is in critical condition.
Police continue to investigate the incident.
Ohh shoot.

Father charged in unintentional shooting for allowing teenage son to take handguns to cabin in the woods

2011-11-04T10:55:00.001-04:00

57-year-old Patrick Donofrio of Union Township, PA has been charged with providing firearms to a minor, endangering the welfare of children and reckless endangerment. The charges stem from an unintentional shooting of then 14-year-old Russell Callen in June of 2010. Donofrio allowed his then 17-year-old son to take two handguns to a hunting cabin with two other boys. Despite the fact that it was a violation of Pennsylvania law to provide a juvenile with a weapon, Donofrio told police he trusted his son with the guns.
Around 3 o'clock in the morning Russell was unintentionally shot in the head, the bullet entered his forehead and exited through the base of his head. Russell survived the shooting but suffered a long treatment process on his road to recovery.
Police determined that Russell was shot with a .32-caliber pistol that belonged to Donofrio. A .40-caliber handgun belonging to Donofrio was also found in the cabin. According to court documents emergency response was delayed because of the frantic nature of the initial 911 phone call. The boys "were constantly screaming and crying during the entire conversation, making it difficult to determine their location so ambulance crews could attend to the victim."

Mother talks of double grief after son unintentionally shoots and kills daughter

2011-11-03T13:52:00.000-04:00

Olivia Pruitt, of Birmingham, Alabama, received a call at work saying her 18-year-old daughter Malehia had been shot. When Olivia arrived home she found multiple police cars outside her house. "Everyone was screaming," she said. Olivia soon learned that her daughter was dead and her 20-year-old son had been handcuffed and taken into custody.
"I saw my son in the back of the police car," Olivia said. "He was crying and banging on the window, 'I'm sorry Mom.' He could only scream."
Police have yet to charge the unidentified youth, but witnesses say the shooting was unintended."I know it was an accident because I know how they feel about each other," Olivia said. She said her son went on a rampage after the shooting. "My other son and his girlfriend got there, and he was on the floor rolling around and banging his fists. He flipped the table and put holes in the walls."
Malehia was a senior at Huffman High School. She was in the government club and was an honor roll student.
"I'm having all kinds of feelings because I lost my daughter, my baby won't be with me," said Olivia. "But also for my son. He is alone, and I can't see him."

Mother waits six weeks to seek medical treatment for son injured in unintentional shooting

2011-11-02T14:10:00.000-04:00

26-year-old Quinisha Edwards and her boyfriend, 25-year-old Vincent Massey, both of Fayetteville, North Carolina, have been arrested and charged with felony child abuse, failure to store a firearm to protect a child, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Charges stem from an incident at the end of August when Quinisha's 4-year-old son found a loaded, unlocked gun in the house and unintentionally shot himself in the hip. Quinisha failed to get medical treatment for her son until mid-October when the child developed difficulty walking. Doctors who were treating the boy found a bullet lodged in his hip.
Bail was set at $100,000 for Quinisha and $185,000 for Massey. Massey also faces charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Ohh shoot.

Grandfather unintentionally shoots grandson in the head while unloading rifle

2011-11-01T15:44:00.000-04:00

An unidentified Kansas City, KS man set out for a day of fun with his 10-year-old grandson. They stopped at a Cabela's sporting goods store so the grandfather could get an antique .22-caliber rifle appraised. He was in the back of his SUV, unloading the weapon when he unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet went through the side of the vehicle and struck his grandson who was standing outside.
The boy was struck in the head and taken to Children's Mercy Hospital were he was listed in serious condition. Police said charges will probably not be filed against the grandfather. "He's pretty upset as one would expect," said a police spokesperson. "Thoughts and prayers are with the family we hope everything turns out OK."

Firing range instructor unintentionally shot while showing his girlfriend how to shoot

2011-10-28T09:43:00.000-04:00

47-year-old Chet Emery, a sergeant with the Bristol Tennessee Police Department and a firing range instructor at the Shooter's Edge in Piney Flats, was with his girlfriend, 46-year-old Kelly Crandell, at the firing range. Kelly was shooting a .22 caliber pistol. According to the general manager of the range, "with any semi-automatic, the brass cartridge comes out. One of them went up and came down and landed in her shirt. She jerked forward with her arms and shoulders, and dropped the gun. We tell everybody, 'If you fumble your gun, drop it.' She actually did catch it, and her finger was on the trigger."
When she caught the gun, Kelly unintentionally discharged the handgun sending a bullet through Chet's wrist and into the right side of his chest. Chet was airlifted to the hospital where he is listed in stable condition.
"Handguns themselves, they aren't dangerous," said the range manager. "When it gets loaded, now it has the potential to do something. It's just a bit ironic that this happened to one of our best instructors. If it can happen to him, it can happen to anybody."
Ohh shoot.

Father unintentionally shoots and kills son while unloading handgun

2011-10-27T13:41:00.000-04:00

Larry Kramer, of Harrisburg, Arkansas, was unloading a 9mm semi-automatic handgun when he unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet struck his son, 19-year-old Brian. The shooting happened around 5 pm Monday afternoon. Brian was rushed to the hospital but died two hours later.
Police say no foul play is suspected. Autopsy reports are expected to be released later in the week.

Oregon hunter mistakes man for bear, shoots and kills him

2011-10-26T17:13:00.001-04:00

67-year-old Gene Collier was hunting on family owned property with his 12-year-old grandson when he mistook a hiker for a bear and fired one shot from his .270-caliber hunting rifle. The bullet hit 20-year-old Christopher Ochoa of French Camp, California. Ochoa, a Marine reservist, was visiting with a friend in the Salem, Oregon area. The two had set off to hike to Silver Falls State Park and were hiking through a field on the way to the park when Ochoa was shot. Ochoa died at the scene.
Collier's wife told reporters her husband had told her he was one-hundred percent sure he was shooting at a bear. But a neighbor said, "I don't understand how you could make that kind of a mistake. You don't shoot at something moving. You have to see the animal you have to know what animal you're shooting."
According to court records Collier has several misdemeanor convictions including a 1996 citation for exceeding the bag limit for black rockfish and convictions in 1991 and 2004 for "violating wildlife regulations." Both convictions resulted in fines.
Ohh shoot.

12-year-old boy unintentionally shoots himself on Youth Hunting Day

2011-10-24T09:01:00.000-04:00

A 12-year-old Maine boy was out hunting with his uncle, 34-year-old Chad Whitehouse, as part of Youth Hunting Day when he unintentionally shot himself in the foot. According to game wardens, the boy was resting the barrel of a .243-caliber rifle on his foot and was playing with the gun's safety when he discharged the gun, shooting himself in the foot.
The boy was brought out of the woods on an ATV and taken to a local hospital where he is listed in good condition.
One Maine Guide describes Youth Hunting Day as the day when hunters between the ages of 10 and 16 team up with parent/guardian sponsors "to carry on the hunting tradition. For the first-time hunter it is a rite of passage."
Ohh shoot.

Mother unintentionally shoots and kills teenage son while cleaning her gun

2011-10-21T09:45:00.000-04:00

Elizabeth South of Giles County, Tennessee was cleaning her gun after a hunting trip when she unintentionally discharged the gun, shooting her 14-year-old son, Anthony, in the chest. A neighbor, who is also a nurse, rushed to help, giving Anthony CPR in an attempt to revive him.
"He moaned a few times," she said, "Had some gasping respirations, but I never go a word out of him."
Anthony was taken to the hospital where he later died. Elizabeth was also injured in the shooting, sustaining an injury to her hand.
" I cannot even imagine what she must be going through," said her neighbor.
The sheriff has ordered testing on the gun to see if it misfired or malfunctioned in any way.

Mother unintentionally shot while emptying dishwasher

2011-10-19T15:16:00.000-04:00

53-year-old Joy Johnston of Palm Coast, Florida was in her kitchen, emptying the dishwasher when she was shot in the lower back. Her son, 27-year-old Todd Johnston had returned from the shooting range and was sitting at the dining room table, cleaning his handgun before he put it away. He thought the gun was unloaded but when he pulled the trigger to remove the slide the gun discharged, sending a bullet into his mother's back.
Joy was transported to the hospital with a non-life threatening injury. Police have classified the shooting as accidental and say no charges will be filed.
Ohh shoot.

Teen killed when bullet comes through bathroom window

2011-10-18T12:24:00.000-04:00

18-year-old Conner Weeks of Columbus, Georgia was in the bathroom in his house when a bullet smashed through the window and stuck him in the right side. Three of Conner's friends were in the backyard looking at weapons when one of the boys unintentionally discharged a shotgun sending the bullet into the bathroom.
Conner was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery, but he was pronounced dead shortly before 1 a.m. Preliminary autopsy results show Conner died of a single gunshot wound to the upper right torso.
Law enforcement officials say accidental firearm discharges are very common, especially during hunting season. "I think the important thing is to focus on the things we have been told our entire lives by our grandparents and parents is we assume that all firearms are loaded," said a Muscogee County sheriff. "Not only is the firearm itself dangerous loaded or unloaded but the ammunition itself is dangerous also, it's an explosive."

Hunting trips in Idaho and Indiana end in tragedy

2011-10-17T19:01:00.000-04:00

18-year-old Eric Menefee Jr. of Fort Wayne, Indiana unintentionally shot and killed his father, 42-year-old Eric Menefee Sr., while hunting rabbits and squirrels at the Roush Lake Fish and Wildlife Area. Eric Jr.'s shotgun reportedly became tangled in brush and when he pulled the gun out he unintentionally fired the gun, striking his father in the back. Eric Sr. was pronounced dead at the scene.
36-year-old Robert Bartlett of St. Maries, Idaho unintentionally shot and killed his 7-year-old son Connor. Father and son were ending a hunting trip in northern Idaho. Bartlett was putting a rifle in a vehicle when he unintentionally discharged the gun, striking Connor. The boy died on the way to the hospital.

Man unintentionally shoots self in head while trying to demonstrate gun was unloaded

2011-10-13T12:14:00.000-04:00

22-year-old Chaz Ursomanno or Seminole, Florida was showing his girlfriend, Naomi, his handgun. She told him to put the gun away but Chaz insisted it wasn't loaded and was safe. In order to prove his point Chaz put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire. Confident the gun was indeed unloaded, he again put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. This time, the gun fired.
When police arrived at the home Chaz was unconscious. He was taken to the hospital where he is listed in serious condition.
Ohh shoot.

Man working on his tractor killed by bullet fired during target practice

2011-10-12T14:51:00.000-04:00

56-year-old David Reed of Skiatook, Oklahoma was in his yard working on his tractor when he was shot on his left side, just under his chest. David died of his injuries. The bullet that killed him came from a nearby field where two men in their early 20s were shooting at paper targets. They had four guns with them, including a handgun and a rifle. They told police that because of the trees near the field they didn't see anyone nearby.
"Maybe not careless, but just didn't think about what they were doing," is how a spokeswoman from the sheriff's office described the incident. "We just need to be safer about areas that are becoming more populated and a lot of growth in that area, and houses aren't as far apart as they used to be. Lots of people out there," she added.
Ohh shoot.

Barber shot in buttocks when customer drops handgun

2011-10-11T14:42:00.001-04:00

Kurt Voelkel, owner of Werner's Barber Shop in Parma, Ohio, was taking a break when a longtime customer came in for a haircut. As the customer was preparing to sit down he hiked up his pants and when he did a 9 mm handgun fell from his holster. When the gun hit the ground it discharged, sending a bullet through Voelkel's chair, his wallet, and into his buttocks.
Voelkel was taken to the hospital and released a few hours later. Doctors are still trying to decide whether or not to remove the bullet. "If I really get in there and push, I can feel it," said Voelkel, "But other than that, I can't - just the wound."
Voelkel added that the customer who shot him feels terrible about it and is paying for all of his medical expenses.
Ohh shoot.

Kids waiting in van for grandfather find handgun, 6-year-old unintentionally shot and killed

2011-10-10T17:39:00.000-04:00

Robert Hill of Greenwood, South Carolina put his three great-grandchildren in his van, preparing to take them to breakfast before going to church Sunday morning. While the three children, ages 5, 6 and 7, were alone in the van waiting they found a handgun. The children started to play with the gun when it was unintentionally discharged. A bullet struck 6-year-old Zykria Hackett in the neck, killing her.
According to police the gun belonged to Zykria's mother, Jonnetta Jamison, who had driven the van the night before. She removed belongings from the glove compartment when she left the van and believed she had the gun with her. Police speculate that the weapon may have fallen to the floor where one of the children found it and picked it up.
Jamison said she had a panic attack and had to be taken to the hospital when she heard about her daughter's death. She had lost another child to illness and Zykria was her only living child.
Police were unclear if Jamison had a concealed weapons permit for the gun. South Carolina does not require a permit to have a handgun in a vehicle as long as it is "secured in a closed glove compartment, closed console, of closed trunk." Police don't expect to file charges in Zykria's death.

Man shot and killed while watching tv, neighbor pleads guilt to unintentional shooting

2011-10-07T18:05:00.000-04:00

30-year-old Joseph Wells was sitting in his second floor apartment in Dectur, Illinois watching television with his partner when a bullet flew through the window and shot him in the back of the head. Joseph was taken to the hospital were he died of his injuries. Police traced the trajectory of the bullet to the backyard of Quincy and Mattisha Houston.
Quincy admitted that he owned a .45-caliber handgun. He said that he and his wife had been drinking when Mattisha asked him to show her how to shoot the gun. The couple went into the backyard and with Quincy's help, Mattisha pointed the gun at a tree in the backyard. Quincy said his wife fired one shot at the tree but was surprised by how noisy the gun was so the couple went back inside and went to bed.
Quincy and Mattisha were both charged with involuntary manslaughter. Mattisha pleaded guilty and Quincy is due in court soon to enter his plea. Mattisha will be sentenced in November. She is facing two to five years in prison.
Ohh shoot.

2-year-old shot after playing with gun from mother's purse

2011-10-05T09:24:00.000-04:00

2-year-old Payton Flow of Dallas, Oregon was unintentionally shot while he and his 3-year-old brother were playing with a handgun they found in their mother's purse. The boy was shot in the stomach and taken to the local hospital where he was treated and released. Payton's mother, Johnnie, said she bought the gun for protection in February. Normally she said it's not loaded. However, she left her purse containing the loaded, unlocked handgun sitting on the couch in the family's front room. Investigators believe the 3-year-old brother pulled the trigger.
"I'm not a bad mother," Johnnie told reporters, "Anybody who knows me knows my babies mean the world to me. That was just a freak accident."
Police said as far as they know, Johnnie does not have a concealed weapons permit. Johnnie said she plans to never keep guns in her house again.
Ohh shoot.

First date ends when man unintentionally shoots himself

2011-10-03T16:18:00.000-04:00

48-year-old Dean Piraneo of Waxhaw, North Carolina was on a first date. The couple had just left Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and were in Piraneo's SUV. According to the police report, "The victim advised that he was reaching for his gun which was chained up in a bicycle lock underneath the car seat. The victim advised that the gun accidentally went off as he was pulling on the gun which shot him in the left leg." Piraneo was taken to the hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.
Police did not comment on whether the woman would be accepting another date.

Man cleaning gun almost shoots woman in neighboring apartment

2011-09-30T16:57:00.001-04:00

A 23-year-old man was cleaning a 9mm handgun in his East Davis, California apartment when he unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet exited his second-floor apartment and went through the window of a neighboring apartment, almost striking a 22-year-old woman who was working at her computer. The shooting happened around 10 p.m. and the man left his apartment without calling the police. Based on the trajectory of the bullet the police were able to determine where the bullet came from and finally contacted the man around 2 a.m.
The man admitted the shooting. Police say no criminal charges are pending because the man was in legal possession of the handgun.
Ohh shoot.

Man unintentionally shot trying to capture a hog for roasting

2011-09-28T17:07:00.001-04:00

50-year-old Reginald Williams and his friend 30-year-old Jason Letort were at Williams' hog pen in Vancleave, Mississippi, rounding up a hog to roast. Letort shot the hog with a .22-caliber rifle, but he only injured the animal. The hog took off running and escaped out of the pen. The men followed, trying to trap the wounded hog. That's when the hog charged Letort. He fired another shot at the hog and the bullet ricocheted, hitting Williams in the chest. Williams was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover.
The Sheriff ruled the shooting an accident. When asked about the wounded animal he replied, "I have no idea what happened to the hog. That was not my concern."
Ohh shoot.

Teenager examining AR-15 assault rifle unintentionally shot in neck

2011-09-27T10:38:00.002-04:00

A 14-year-old boy from Shannon, Alabama was at his friend's house when his friend brought out an AR-15 assault rifle. The gun belonged to the friend's deceased grandparents and his sister had brought it home while cleaning out the grandparents' house. The friend removed the gun's magazine and the two boys were looking at the gun when the friend accidentally dropped it. Both boys tried to catch the falling gun and in the process unintentionally discharged the weapon. The 14-year-old boy was shot in the neck. He was taken to a hospital in Birmingham and is expected to survive his injury.
Police consider the shooing accidental and no charges will be filed. Alabama has no law concerning the minimum age to possess an assault rifle.
Ohh shoot.

Man charged in unintentional shooting death of 4-year-old girl

2011-09-26T12:00:00.001-04:00

4-year-old Katterine Palma and her brother and sister were dropped off at an aunt's house in Charlotte, North Carolina Saturday morning. Katterine was in a bedroom with her 11-year-old brother and her 3-year-old cousin when they found a loaded, unlocked handgun that belonged to the aunt's boyfriend, 37-year-old Erin Melendez. Police are still investigating what exactly happened but what is known is that one of the children unintentionally discharged the handgun, shooting Katterine. The child was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Melendez has been charged with storing a gun in a manner accessible to a minor. Melendez told news reporters that he bought the .38-caliber handgun about six months ago for protection after he was the victim of an armed robbery. He said he kept the gun loaded and unlocked but hidden in various parts of the apartment. Sometimes under a mattress, sometimes in a desk drawer. North Carolina law requires that guns be stored in a way that cannot be accessed by a child living in the home. Violation of the law is a Class 1 misdemeanor offense.
In the past year at least four children in the Carolinas have been seriously injured or killed in unintentional shootings. In August, the 4-year-old son of a South Carolina sheriff's deputy was seriously injured when he shot himself with his father's gun. In February, a 10-year-old boy unintentionally shot and killed his 11-year-old sister in their Anson County home. Last year, a 5-year-old boy shot himself in the face when he found a loaded, unlocked gun while visiting friends. The owner of that gun was not charged because no children lived in the home and North Carolina law only applies to homes with children.
Ohh shoot.

77-year-old man unintentionally shoots himself while cleaning out closet in his house

2011-09-22T14:05:00.002-04:00

A 77-year-old Toms River, New Jersey man was cleaning out a closet in his home with his wife when he came across a loaded, unlocked .357 semi-automatic handgun that he had stored in the closet. He was in the process of checking the weapon when he ran into difficultly with the gun's slide. While trying to fix the problem he unintentionally discharged the firearm, shooting himself in the stomach.
He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment. His condition has not been released. Police say no charges have been filed because the man was in legal possession of the gun and the shooting was accidental.

Woman shot when her gun fell from her holster while pumping gas

2011-09-21T16:17:00.000-04:00

A 61-year-old woman from Ashland County, Ohio was getting gas at a station in Ontario, Ohio. While she was pumping the gas her gun fell from its holster and discharged when it hit the ground. She was shot in the leg.
The woman has a concealed weapons permit for the gun and was able to walk into the gas station store and ask for help. She was taken to the hospital. Her condition has not been released.
Ohh shoot.

Father cleaning handgun unintentionally shoots and kills 14-year-old son

2011-09-19T15:03:00.000-04:00

14-year-old Bryan Duda, of Somerset, Pennsylvania, was at home, his father was in the other room cleaning his handgun when he unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet traveled across the open floor plan of the house and struck Bryan in the chest, killing him.
Family friends told reporters that the father had bought the gun for his job as a security guard at a mine, but had been laid off and wanted to sell the gun, so he decided to clean it. "He just got the gun in case anybody would try to harm him any way, and that way he had something to protect himself with, because we're out there in the middle of nowhere," said a family friend.
Bryan was a freshman at Somerset Area High School and was described as "very fun-loving" and "an easy-going kid." Funeral services will be held Monday.

17-month-old loses eye when hit by stray bullet

2011-09-16T12:51:00.000-04:00

17-month-old Samyah Bailey was sitting in her stroller Wednesday afternoon outside of her Staten Island, New York apartment went a fight erupted close by. The fight involved Samyah's uncle, father and two others. At some point Damark King pulled out a 9mm handgun and fired four shots. All of the shots missed their target, but one of the bullets hit Samyah in the head. The little girl is now recovering from brain surgery, plastic surgery and eye surgery. She is in stable condition but lost her left eye.
King, 19, has been arrested on charges of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and weapons possession. He is on parole for a robbery he committed in 2007 when he was 15. Daryl McCullough, who was also involved in the fight and who is on probation for assault, was not charged with a crime. But both Samyah's father and uncle, both of whom have records, were arrested at the scene. The uncle was charged with a parole violation and the father was arrested on a warrant for assault.
Ohh shoot.

Prison guard hit by stray bullet from nearby shooting range

2011-09-15T10:53:00.001-04:00

A prison guard at the state prison in Otay Mesa, California was struck in the back of the head by a stray bullet as he was standing inside the prison grounds, near the perimeter fence. The bullet grazed his head and knocked him to the ground. At first he thought someone had hit him with a rock but an investigation determined that a bullet had come from the nearby firing range where a local law enforcement agency was training. The outdoor range is located about 300 yards from the main prison compound.
The guard was treated at the local hospital for a graze wound and sent home to recuperate.
Initially, investigators thought the bullet was a ricochet from the firing range, but they are also exploring the possibility that it was a misfire from a semi-automatic handgun, with the bullet taking an upward trajectory and then falling into the prison compound.
Ohh shoot.

Man sentenced in unintentional shooting death of 3-year-old

2011-09-14T18:09:00.001-04:00

In November of 2009, Joseph Novak was target shooting next to his home in Owensville, Missouri. He was shooting a 9mm handgun. One of the bullets missed the target and traveled more than 350 yards across a field and struck 3-year-old Allison Schneider in the head. Allison was walking on her property with two other children when she was shot. She was flown to a hospital in St. Louis where x-rays revealed that the bullet was still lodged in her head. Allison died later that day.
In May of this year, Novak was found guilty of second degree manslaughter. He was sentenced this week and given a three-year suspended sentenced and placed on five years probation.

Unsecured gun in car discharges, shoots passenger

2011-09-12T12:18:00.001-04:00

25-year-old Marcus Price of Chattanooga, Tennessee was riding in his girlfriend's Chevy HHR when an unsecured, loaded gun in the rear compartment of the car discharged. Marcus was sitting in the front passenger seat and was shot in the lower back. The bullet went through the middle passenger seat and into the front passenger seat before hitting Marcus.
Marcus' infant daughter was sitting in the back seat of the car but was unharmed. His girlfriend drove him to the hospital. Marcus is recovering from surgery.
Ohh shoot.

Long recovery for deputy injured in unintentional shooting

2011-09-09T17:46:00.000-04:00

On December 26, 2009, 46-year-old Todd Casey of Marietta, Georgia went to the shooting range to practice for a qualification test for his job as a Cobb County deputy. He returned home and was cleaning his police-issued Glock handgun when he unintentionally discharged the gun. The bullet struck the back of his knee, ripped through the main artery and exited out of the back of his left leg. Doctors were forced to amputate Todd's leg below the knee two days later.

Todd also suffered a brain injury that caused some memory loss and spent weeks in a drug-induced coma. He was in the hospital for three months. He has been on disability since the accident and has only recently been cleared to drive a car. Financial difficulties have forced him to move in with his brother and sister-in-law. He is hoping to find an apartment or someone who is looking for a roommate somewhere in Marietta so he can attend his bi-weekly doctor's appointment in town.

Man moving gun unintentionally shoots and kills fiance

2011-09-08T17:28:00.000-04:00

18-year-old Mandi Viator of New Iberia, Louisiana was shot and killed when her fiance unintentionally discharged a gun. The couple was living in a camper at a KOC campground. Mandi's finance was moving a gun when he unintentionally discharged it. The bullet went through a wall, a dresser, and a shower curtain before striking Mandi. Paramedics were quick to arrive on the scene but were unable to revive Mandi. The Sheriff's department has classified this as an accidental shooting but says the D.A. will be reviewing the case to see if any charges for negligence or illegal use of a firearm are warranted.

Man leaves gun on bathroom floor, toddler finds it

2011-09-07T15:10:00.000-04:00

34-year-old Ron Allen of Savannah, Georgia took a loaded handgun from the waistband of his pants when he used the bathroom at his girlfriend's house. He placed the gun on the floor and left the weapon there when he left the room. A short time later, his girlfriend's 2-year-old son went to wash his hands. He found the handgun and unintentionally shot himself in the head. The boy remains in critical condition at a Savannah hospital.

Allen has been charged with second degree cruelty to a child and reckless conduct. He has been denied bond. His lawyer argued that Allen was employed as a longshoreman and was not a flight risk. "This is an unfortunate accident situation that occurred here," he said.

Ohh shoot.

75-year-old man concerned about strangers in backyard unintentionally shoots himself after getting his gun

2011-09-06T15:28:00.000-04:00

A 75-year-old Brookfield, Wisconsin man was concerned when he saw two strangers in his backyard at 7 o'clock in the morning. So he went and got his handgun. According to police the man "was carrying around the handgun and it accidentally went off and he shot himself in the leg." The man lives alone and was not able to call for help so he lay on the floor until 1:30 in the afternoon when he was found by a meal delivery service. He had lost a large amount of blood and was taken to the local hospital. He is expected to survive. Police had no information about trespassers or attempted burglaries in the area.

Woman unintentionally discharges handgun outside Safeway supermarket

2011-09-05T17:54:00.000-04:00

A 39-year-old woman unintentionally discharged a handgun outside of a Safeway supermarket in Prescott Valley, Arizona. The .38-caliber handgun inside her backpack discharged when she adjusted her backpack. According to police the gun was not secured in a holster. The bullet struck a column in the front of the store and no one was hurt. The woman was charged with suspicion of criminal damage and disorderly conduct with a weapon.
Arizona does not require any sort of permit or safety training before an individual can carry a loaded, hidden gun in public.
Ohh shoot.

Man lies to police about unintentional shooting, says burglar shot him

2011-09-01T11:35:00.000-04:00

A Brandon, Mississippi man, identified only as Damien, was cleaning his .223 rifle when he unintentionally discharged the firearm, wounding himself in the shoulder. He ran outside and started shouting, "I've been shot." When police arrived he told them a burglar who was breaking into his home shot him.
"Supposedly, a guy busted in Damien's house with a black mask because Damien was selling some guns on Craigslist," said a neighbor. "The guy just busted the door, shot him and then ran off." The neighbor added, "I got my gun out, and it's sitting by the door - just in case something else happens, if they come looking for Damien again."
But after police transported Damien to the local hospital and began investigating the incident they quickly determined that things didn't add up. After more questioning, Damien admitted that it was an accidental shooting and that he shot himself. The injuries are not considered life-threatening and Damien might face charges of falsifying a report.
Ohh shoot.

U of Montana student unintentionally shoots, injures another student

2011-08-31T10:54:00.000-04:00

20-year-old Michael Ream, a student at the University of Montana in Missoula, was showing off his brand-new 20-gauge shotgun when he unintentionally discharged the firearm, striking his 19-year-old friend in the hand. The wound was not serious and the friend was treated at the local hospital and released. Ream was charged with misdemeanor negligent endangerment.
The incident happened in a parking lot on the campus on the first day of fall semester classes. University of Montana allows students to bring weapons on campus only if they are locked in a private vehicle or stored in one of the gun closets in a residence hall. Concealed weapons are not allowed on campus, even if you have a concealed weapons permit.
A university spokesperson said that as hunting season approaches more students bring weapons on campus. But he can only recall three or four times when firearms were discovered in a student's dorm room. "Sometimes I think they're somewhat forgetful about checking it in," he said. Adding that the concern was not so much about the gun owner but about other people, like roommates, having access to these guns.
Ohh shoot.

Movie prop gun turns out to be real gun, actor unintentionally shot

2011-08-30T10:32:00.000-04:00

21-year-old Tracci King, of Toledo, Ohio, and his friends were making an amateur action film. It was a shoot-'em-up film where the actors were wielding realistic looking toy guns. During a break in the filming they put the guns on a table. One of the friends, who has a concealed weapons permit allowing him to carry a loaded, hidden gun in public, laid his loaded, .45-caliber handgun down on the table along with the toy guns. Randy Schimmel picked up the gun, thinking it was one of the toy guns. He pulled the trigger. The gun fired, shooting Tracci in the leg as he sat on a couch across the room. Tracci was taken to the hospital for treatment. Police have classified the incident as an accidental shooting and no arrests have been made, although the investigation continues.
Ohh shoot.

15-year-old unintentionally shoots himself while at gun range

2011-08-29T09:41:00.000-04:00

A 15-year-old boy was shooting handguns with his father at the Davis County Rifle Range in Fruit Heights, Utah. The boy was holding a .45-caliber handgun when he went to sit down on a swivel chair. He stumbled and fell, losing control of the gun and unintentionally discharging the firearm. The boy was shot in the head. He was flown to a hospital in Salt Lake City where he is listed in critical condition.
His family has asked that the boy's name not be released but they have reported that the boy was improving and "responded" to hospital workers and family members, though he is still not able to speak.

19-year-old accidentally shoots, kills herself outside of California Starbucks

2011-08-25T17:26:00.000-04:00

19-year-old Turisha Lashay Huston of Sacramento, California was meeting with friends at a Starbucks on Power Inn Road. Police think that Turisha was reaching into her purse when she unintentionally discharged a handgun in her bag. She was shot once and died at the scene.

Man unintentionally shoots friend, tries to comfort him while he dies

2011-08-23T15:43:00.000-04:00

60-year-old Anthony Kelich of Carson City, Nevada was in the desert with his two roommates, Mike Scott, 46, and Kennith Johnson, 47, drinking and shooting a rifle. They were heading back when Johnson stopped the truck to urinate. When he went to get out of the truck he handed the loaded rifle to Kelich who was sitting in the front passenger seat. Scott was standing outside, next to the driver's door.
Kelich told police he had his finger on the trigger and when he went to put the gun down he unintentionally discharged it. The bullet went through the open door and hit Scott in the left side of his face.
In a panic, Johnson took off in his truck, taking all the cell phones with him, and leaving behind the wounded man and his roommate. Johnson neglected to send help back and the next morning Kelich stumbled out of the canyon where he finally found help.
Kelich told police that he had stayed by Scott's side all night, trying his best to comfort him. He said Scott died a short time before dawn.
Because Kelich has a felony record and is therefore prohibited from possessing a gun and because he admitted to drinking while using the gun he has been charged with felony involuntary manslaughter.
Police are still investigating the incident, including trying to figure out where Kennith Johnson was all night and why he never called for help.

Husband unintentionally shoots and kills wife while testing gun at local gun shop

2011-08-22T11:51:00.000-04:00

61-year-old Beverly Dively Klepic and her husband went to Miller's Munitions shop in Huntington Township, Pennsylvania to buy a gun. The couple went to the back of the shop to test fire weapons. Beverly's husband was handling a Kel-tec 9mm handgun when he unintentionally discharged the gun and struck Beverly in the abdomen. Beverly was flown to a York hospital where she died a short time later. Police are investigating the incident.
The shop has no visible business signs and appears to be just a two-story residential home. A neighbor commented that he was not aware the property was a gun shop although the property owner always seemed to have a lot of weapons.

Man unintentionally shoots two friends while examining newly purchased handgun

2011-08-19T12:08:00.000-04:00

A 24-year-old San Diego, California man was loading his newly purchased .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun for the first time. When he put the gun down on the coffee table he unintentionally discharged the weapon. The bullet hit his girlfriend in the leg, then exited her leg and lodged in the thigh of a 19-year-old male who was visiting.
According to police the handgun owner apparently had his finger on the trigger of the gun when he put it down on the table, causing him to accidentally fire one shot. The two people hit by the bullet were taken to the hospital and are expected to recover. The gun was seized by police and the gun owner is expected to be charged with negligent discharge of a firearm.
Ohh shoot.

Father talks of how he always taught his children gun safety after son unintentionally shoots and kills daughter

2011-08-18T11:22:00.000-04:00

A 10-year-old Radford, Virginia boy was home alone with his 14-year-old sister, Jessie Kessinger. The boy grew concerned after hearing news reports of a dangerous man on the loose in Radford so he searched the house until he found the key to his father's gun cabinet. While handling a hunting rifle the gun unintentionally discharged. The single bullet hit his sister, Jessie, killing her.

Leonard Kessinger, the children's father, gave an interview to a local news station. "I taught 'em gun safety from the time my son was 4 and my daughter was 7," he said. "We hunted together, we'd to go shooting ranges together, I mean, I showed them the correct way."
According to Leonard's brother, he has now gotten rid of all his hunting rifles.

Man hit by stray bullet while stopped at a red light

2011-08-17T14:44:00.000-04:00

55-year-old Lee Wallace of Austin, Texas was driving to work to pick up bagels and make deliveries when he was shot while stopped at a red light. The shot came from a gathering of people in a nearby Wendy's parking lot. Wallace was not involved in the incident that sparked the shooting and was not the intended target.
Wallace was shot in the neck and was able to pull his car off the road and flag down a police officer. According to his son, "Luckily the bullet missed both arteries and did not sever his spinal cord." He said his father has sever throat damage but is conscious and has a tracheotomy.
Police are looking for the people involved. No arrests have been made.
Ohh shoot.

17-year-old unintentionally shoots and kills her friend

2011-08-16T11:25:00.000-04:00

17-year-old Renee Addison was visiting a friend in East Memphis, Tennessee. While looking at a 9mm handgun that belonged to someone in the house she was checking to see if the gun was loaded when she unintentionally discharged the firearm. The bullet struck 17-year-old Sarah Galbraith, killing her.
Renee has now been charged with reckless homicide. Her father doesn't understand why she is being charged with a crime. "I thought an accident was an accident," he said. "The cop told me Sunday night it was a terrible, tragic accident, but they had to charge her with something." He added that his daughter doesn't even like guns so he was shocked when he was told of the tragedy. He said his daughter lives in Michigan with her mother and had just returned to Memphis for a visit. "Now one girl's dead and one girl's never going to be the same again."