Tourist killed by ricocheted bullet from unintentional gun discharge in Helen, Georgia

A woman from Texas was visiting the tourist town of Helen, Georgia when she was shot and killed Saturday night. 53-year-old Glenn Lampien, from Jasper, Ga, unintentionally discharged a small-caliber handgun outside the Old Heidelburg restaurant. The bullet hit him in the hand, then ricocheted off the pavement and struck the woman on the other side of the street.

The woman was struck in the side. Bystanders attempted to administer first aid but she died at the scene.

Police have not yet released the woman's name. In a statement, the police said Lampien would be charged with involuntary manslaughter.

The shooting occurred less than two months after a new law took effect in Georgia that greatly extended gun owners' rights to carry weapons in public places.

Motorcyclist unitentionally shot when handgun goes off during crash

A 60-year-old Pennsylvania man was riding his motorcycle in Black Hawk, Colorado when he was hit by a Chevrolet sedan. As he was thrown from his bike, a handgun he was carrying unintentionally discharged, shooting him in the chest.

The motorcyclist suffered serious injuries and was taken to a Denver hospital. Police recovered his handgun at the scene.

The driver of the sedan fled the scene. Police were able to locate him a short time later and arrested him for the hit-and-run.

Father unintentionally shoots daughter thinking she was an intruder

A Frederick County, Virginia man unintentionally shot his 16-year-old daughter thinking she was an intruder trying to break into his home.

According to police, around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday when the girl's father was getting ready for work, an alarm system in the house told the man the garage door had just been opened. "When he went to go investigate what had set off the alarm, he heard some banging and rustling around in the garage. At that particular point, he obtained a firearm that he had there in the kitchen area."

The man went into the garage, but didn't turn the light on. He felt someone was "coming at him" and fired the gun, hitting his daughter in the torso. The girl had snuck out of the house earlier and was trying to sneak back into the home.

After realizing his mistake, he rushed her to Winchester Medical Center. In his haste, he wrecked his car. Fire and Rescue transported the girl to the hospital where she remains in stable condition.

The Commonwealth's Attorney's office will determine whether or not any charges will be filed.

Man wearing only a towel and carrying a gun takes three small children to get pizza, unintentionally discharges gun

27-year-old Phillip Engle, of Muskegon Township, Michigan, told police he took four hits of acid before showing up at Happy's Pizza wearing only a towel and carrying a handgun.

Engle had three children with him - ages 6,4 and 3.  According to police reports, Engle stood outside the business and pounded on a glass window, smashing the glass. He also unintentionally discharged his .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun in the process, damaging the door to the business.

After the gun went off, Engle walked back to his home. Police arrested him there when they found him sitting on the porch still holding the gun.

Child Protect Services were notified and Engle was arrested and charged with four misdemeanors: malicious destruction of property; careless discharge of a firearm causing property damage; reckless use of a firearm; and possession of a firearm while under the influence.

Police also found evidence that Engle had fired a gun inside his vehicle, damaging the interior.  However, it isn't clear when that gunfire incident occurred in relation to the Happy's Pizza incident.

Joe Riggs unintentionally shoots himself, putting UFC return on hold

Joe Riggs is an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight fighter.  He was scheduled to make his return to the UFC after eight years away on Sept. 13th.  But his return has been put on hold after he unintentionally shot himself while cleaning his handgun.

Riggs was at his home in Arizona when he unintentionally discharged the handgun, shooting himself in his hand and upper thigh. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The UFC is currently looking for a replacement for the Sept. 13th fight.

Pregnant woman shot and killed in unintentional shooting

25-year-old Katherine Hoover of Inverness, Florida was at a friend's house in Brooksville Saturday night.  Katherine and her husband, Carson, were looking at William DeHayes' gun collection, admiring his .22 caliber revolver.  William was holding the gun when he unintentionally discharged the weapon, shooting Katherine in the head. 

Katherine was rushed to the local hospital and airlifted to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point.  She died of her injuries.

Katherine was five months pregnant and an effort was made to save the unborn child.  Physicians removed the fetus from his dying mother but he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Katherine is survived by her 6-year-old son Nicholas.

Police are still investigating the incident and no charges have been filed against 33-year-old DeHayes.

Woman hospitalized after unintentional shooting in hotel room

27-year-old Amanda Soape, of Mineola, Texas, had rented a room in the local Best Western Inn. According to reports, Amanda was there with another female when two males stopped by to visit.

One of the men had a small caliber handgun and was showing off the gun when it unintentionally discharged, striking Amanda in the jaw.   She was taken to the medical center in Tyler for treatment. Her injuries were described as non-life threatening but she remains hospitalized.

No charges have been filed at this time.

Town official wants to close gun range after bullet grazes neighbor

A woman was standing in the back yard of a home in Greenburgh, New York when a bullet fragment grazed her leg.  The injury was minor and she was treated at the scene but it raised concern about the safety of a nearby gun range.

Testing confirmed that the bullet came from the Westchester County Police Revolver and Rifle League.  The gun range is operated by a private, non-profit organization and has been operational for seventy years.  However, in that time housing developments and a middle school have grown around them.

Paul Feiner, the Greenburgh Town Supervisor, wants to see the range closed. "I don't think a gun range should be located in a residential neighborhood," he said.

Feiner added that when he contacted the state he was stunned to learn there are no regulations governing gun ranges.  "There's no inspection, they don't need any approvals," he said.

The group has voluntarily ceased operations while police investigate the incident.

Woman unintentionally shot at Pennsylvania gun show

Krysta Gearhart, of Orangeville, Pennsylvania was unintentionally shot at the Eagle Arms Guns Show at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds on Saturday.

According to police, a firearm vendor at the gun show, Geoffrey Hawk, was demonstrating how to use a concealed carry holster.  Instead of using a plastic model gun, Hawk was using a semi-automatic .380 handgun.  Hawk had removed the magazine but didn't realize there was a bullet still left in the chamber.

Hawk unintentionally discharged the gun.  The bullet struck Krysta in the leg. She was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Police have referred the case to the district attorney to determine if criminal charges should be filed.

Stray bullets hit 10-year-old girl, just miss her 8-year-old sister sleeping nearby

Last month, Indianapolis police responded to a triple homicide in Lakeside Manor. An attempted drug robbery turned into a shoot out where three people were killed. Several nearby homes were struck by stray bullets. One of the homes belonged to Darye and Dija Henry.

The Henrys told reporters that their 10-year-old daughter was hit in the leg by one of the bullets that hit their home. Another bullet hit the pillow of their 8-year-old daughter who was in bed sleeping.

Their daughter was rushed to the hospital were she was treated for a non-life threatening injury.

20-year-old Montrel Humphrey was arrested and charged with three counts of murder and one count of robbery.

In 2011 Dija produced a play called A Song for Peace to bring awareness to crime and violence in Indianapolis.