Hi. We’re back again with another couple dozen accidental shootings. Because time marches on, and the same things keep happening over and over again, but to a mostly different set of people. Fifteen people accidentally shot themselves during the week, and two people were accidentally shot by family members or significant others. And one man, out target shooting with his son, either accidentally shot himself or was accidentally shot by his son, but we don’t know which. Unless he was accidentally shot by someone else, entirely, which I guess is a possibility. But hey, guns! So LOL YOLO ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ !
“Only” five kids were accidentally shot this week. And one injured himself by getting pinched by the slide of the semi-automatic handgun he accidentally fired.
The recurring theme for this week seemed to be the guns that are fired accidentally while their owners (or bearers, anyway) are out and about among the rest of us, while we’re shopping, dining, or otherwise going about our daily business. Four people were accidentally shot during the week—three fatally—by guns brought to the workplace. Several states now prohibit businesses from banning their employees’ guns from their property, so long as they’re stored in their (locked) personal vehicles. In Daviess County, Kentucky, a man who’d brought his gun with him to work decided, for whatever reason, to handle the weapon while sitting in his truck during his lunch break, and ended up shooting himself in the upper leg/pelvic area. I imagine he required family/medical leave, at least for the afternoon. It’s a good thing Democrats fight for such benefits. I hope it was there for him to take advantage of.
There are certainly some businesses where there’s some reasonable expectation of danger, and the management and employees there often choose to keep firearms on site for their own safety. But sometimes it doesn’t work out as planned. In Dalton, Georgia, a man was fatally wounded by a gun kept in a desk at the auto towing & recovery lot where he worked. And in West Palm Beach, Florida, a man working at a strip club was killed when a fellow employee moved and accidentally fired a gun on a shelf in the storage room. (This story gained some additional notice because the man killed was the father of a NFL football player.) And in Rainbow City, Alabama, the manager of a local bank, who carried a gun for protection when he opened the branch early in the morning, was found dead by the next employee to arrive, having accidentally shot himself.
In Columbia, South Carolina, a man shopping at the Dutch Square mall dropped the bag in which he was carrying his concealed firearm. It discharged and fired a round through the shop window. Thankfully, no one was injured. And churchgoers in Gladeville, Tennessee, likewise lucked out when a concealed carrier, for the second time in our GunFAIL history, accidentally discharged a firearm during Easter services.
What a time to be alive.
- COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, 4/16/17: A second Colorado Springs man has accidentally shot himself in a handful of days. Late Sunday, officers were called out to the YMCA on Jet Wing Drive after receiving a call about a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found that a man had accidentally shot himself while driving along the road. He was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Though he has not been charged or named thus far, this is the second time in less than a week that a Colorado Springs man accidentally shot himself. Last Thursday, Phillip Terry was charged after he accidentally shot himself, but reported to police that he had been shot in a drive-by in downtown Colorado Springs. Terry faces prohibited use of weapons and false reporting charges in that incident.
- MIDVALE, UT, 4/16/17: Four people were arrested early Sunday after multiple shots were fired inside an apartment and one of the rounds hit a woman sleeping in another unit, according to police. When police found the 31-year-old shooting victim, they found "her ring finger had been severed," according to a Salt Lake County Jail report. About 2:15 AM, a Unified police officer at the Midvale precinct heard a shot fired next door at the Calaveras Apartments, 7940 S. Main, followed by a 20-second pause and then several more shots, said Unified Police Lt. Brian Lohrke. Investigators believe there was a party going on inside the apartment where the shots were fired. At least one of the bullets went through a wall and into an adjacent apartment, hitting woman's fingertip, Lohrke said. The woman was sleeping on a couch, and the shot missed her head by just a few inches, he said. She was taken to Intermountain Medical Center in fair condition. Police surrounded the apartment where the shots were fired. Four people, including two juveniles, surrendered without incident, Lohrke said. Two of the people arrested are documented gang members, he said. Fernando Zavala, 23, and Giovanni Alexis Zavala, 20, were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail in connection with the shooting. Giovanni Zavala was arrested for investigation of felony discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, obstruction of justice and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to jail records. Two 17-year-olds, a boy and a girl, were also booked into Salt Lake Juvenile Detention. Search warrants were served on the apartment Sunday. Shell casings and drug paraphernalia were found in the rooms, the report states. Lohrke said it was unknown whether the shots came from one gun or if there was an exchange of gunfire. Detectives were also looking into the possibility that one of the suspects attempted to shoot someone who fled from the apartment.
- NEW PALESTINE, IN, 4/16/17: An off-duty officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department accidentally shot himself in the leg over the weekend, a police spokesperson said. Officer Michael Price will be OK after shooting himself in the leg. The incident happened around 11 AM, at the officer's house in New Palestine, Indiana. A deputy with the Hancock County Sheriff's Department responded to the shooting, and noted he saw Price laying on the ground with bruising and swelling around his right knee, according to a police report. Price told the deputy he was attempting to clear his .40-caliber mini Glock. He had it on his lap when it fired. The department is looking at employing additional training for safe handling of firearms after the incident.
- DETROIT, MI, 4/16/17: The 19-year-old Detroit man who shot two Detroit Police Officers who were responding to a burglary call is in court Friday for a preliminary hearing. Juwan Plummer, 19, was charged with shooting the officers last month when they were called to his home on Lesure Street. His family says that he fired the shotgun once in an attempt to protect his house from suspected burglars. Plummer's father Vincent Redd said his son had already been shaken up, from an apparent attempted break-in the week before and didn't know that officers had been called to investigate suspicious activity across the street. That's when Plummer fired a single shot through a front window. Redd says, his son was trying to scare away who he thought were burglars. But Prosecutors say the two young officers in full uniform banged on the door. "He never heard anyone announce themselves," Redd said. "He just saw flashlights down by the window and heard a noise approaching the porch." The shotgun blast grazed one officer in his arm, but his partner, hit in the face with two pellets. One pellet became lodged in his jaw. "When he heard that one of the police officers had been shot in the face, instantly, it tore him up," Redd said. Detroit police say that officer shot in face—originally critical, is thankfully, doing much better.
- SOUTH DAYTON, NY, 4/16/17: Darcy Flagg was planning a ham dinner; instead, she spent her evening at the hospital. “Just hearing them call and say you’re daughter is being taken to the hospital because she was shot and then getting to the hospital and seeing my daughter laying in bed with her arm full of blood, it just, it was horrible,” Flagg said. Her 16-year-old daughter Brittany Bean was shot in her right forearm with a 12-gauge shotgun while she was at a friend’s house. Her friend, a 12-year-old boy, shot her according to New York State Police. Trooper Jim O’Callaghan said no adults were home at the time. “We took that weapon from the house and we also took several other weapons from the house which were not used in this incident. But as a precautionary these items were removed from the house and unfortunately a lot of these items were not locked up and some of them were even loaded,” he said. Brittany was taken via Mercy Flight to the hospital, where she’s undergone several surgeries. She’s now home-schooled for the rest of the year and won’t be enjoying the spring and summer activities she used to. “She has barely to no movement in the wrist. Her fingers are getting a little bit of movement but they are still numb. The doctors are saying it’s going to be a long road for her,” Flagg said. The 12-year-old suspect has been charged with Reckless Endangerment and Menacing. The boy’s 41-year-old father is charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child. State police want this avoidable tragedy to serve as a reminder that part of responsible gun ownership is keeping guns locked away from your children. There is a Go Fund Me Page set up for Brittany’s medical bills called “Benefit for Brittany Bean.” You can also make a donation to Community Bank under Darcy Flagg.
- BIGGS, KY, 4/16/17: Kentucky State Police is asking for the public's help identifying a person involved in a hunting-related shooting Sunday morning in Pike County. Troopers say Timothy Adkins of Feds Creek told them he was mushroom hunting in the Biggs area of Pike County Easter Sunday morning when he was shot in the back by a turkey hunter. Adkins told troopers the hunter, who did not remove his face mask, told him he would go get help...but, he never returned. Family members transported Adkins to Pikeville Medical Center, where 41 buck shot pellets were removed from his back, arms and head. At this time, KSP is considering this an accidental shooting, but would like to speak to the hunter who shot Adkins. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Kentucky State Police Post 9.
- GLADEVILLE, TN, 4/16/17: A gun accidentally discharged in a Wilson County church on Easter Sunday. It happened between sermons at The Glade Church in Gladeville. Thankfully, nobody was injured, but the incident is now under investigation. Authorities told News 2 a man, who has a carry permit, was attending an Easter service at the Gladeville Baptist church when the gun in his pocket accidentally went off. The gun was a 9mm Glock, and the bullet tore a hole through his pants and shot into the floor. Pastor Mark Marshall heard the gun shot when it happened around 9 AM. “The big picture is nobody was hurt. It was completely an accident on this guy’s part,” Marshall said. “There are people in the vicinity, so we do believe God protected everyone yesterday,” the pastor added. According to investigators, there were about 40 to 50 people around when the gun discharged. While there is a notice prohibiting firearms in the church, Pastor Marshall says several members of the congregation, including law enforcement officers, do carry guns on their person. Marshall told News 2 the notice is posted for the large number of people who use the church for various reasons all week long. And while no one was injured, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Department takes the accidental discharge seriously. “You are legally and ethically responsible for every bullet that comes out of that gun,” said. Lt. Scott Moore. Sheriff’s officials say the bullet hit the carpet leaving a small mark, but the bullet could have gone anywhere. “It could happen whenever you discharge a firearm. In this case, accidentally, it could go through his leg, off the floor; it could do anything. You have no control of a bullet once it is fired,” explained Lt. Moore. The sheriff’s office says how the gun went off in the man’s pocket is unknown. “Something has to trigger the bullet to be fired out. In a situation like this, not sure if something was in his pocket, but something has to pull the trigger,” the lieutenant told News 2. The district attorney plans to review the case once the investigation is over. The man could be facing charges or lose his carry permit, but that remains unknown at this time. His weapon and ammunition were placed into evidence pending the outcome of the case.
- HIGH POINT, NC, 4/16/17: A man accidentally shot himself Sunday morning while running away from police in High Point. High Point Police Capt. Anthro Gamble confirmed that the shooting happened on the Triangle Montessori School property after a 20-year-old man fled from police. Officers have not named that man. The man came into contact with police after an officer heard a gunshot at 10:21 AM near Kroll Lane in High Point. Gamble said the officer was talking with the man who suddenly ran into nearby woods. The officer chased after him. Police do not know if the man is the person who fired the original gunshot. Gamble said the man shot himself as he was trying to get rid of his own gun. Gamble said he believes the 20 year old did not want to get caught with the weapon since he is not authorized to be carrying a gun. The police captain said that the man has a small criminal history with only minor crimes. Gamble said the man is hospitalized and needs surgery but he is expected to recover.
- JEFFERSON, SC, 4/16/17: A 76-year-old woman was accidentally shot Sunday while trying to break up a fight between two men at a home on West Baker Street in the Jefferson community of Chesterfield County, according to Chesterfield County Sheriff Jay Brooks. Brooks said the woman got between her relative and another man to stop them from fighting when her relative accidentally shot her in the stomach. Brooks said that relative was then stabbed in the eye by another relative. Deputies found the woman wounded on the front porch and her relative sitting on the steps bleeding from his left eye. Both were taken to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C., where the woman remains in stable condition. Her relative has been treated and released. Charges are pending as the investigation continues, police say.
- JUNEAU, AK, 4/17/17: What allegedly began as a late night handgun sale ended with a 19-year-old suffering a gunshot wound in downtown Juneau. According to a Juneau Police Department news release, the 19-year-old was at the Wharf building on Monday night to meet a 22-year-old man to buy a handgun. The two men, whom police did not name, were examining the loaded weapon when it went off, the statement said. At about 11:18 PM, a 911 caller reported a “bang” and a man lying on the floor screaming. Officers found the man in significant pain with a gunshot wound to his leg. “The bullet wound was in the right thigh of the 19-year-old,” Juneau police spokesman Lt. David Campbell said. “It was right in meaty part of the thigh. (It was) a fairly significant bullet wound. It wasn’t like a grazing shot or anything like that.” The victim was treated on the scene by Capital City Fire/Rescue and taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital. Campbell had read the police report, but it was in a draft format, so not all details were immediately available. Police interviewed everyone involved and located the handgun, but the details about the firearm were limited. “We are not releasing the type of gun at this point in time just because we are dealing with recommendations from the district attorney’s office,” Campbell said. “The only thing we can say is it was a semi-automatic handgun.” If the department arrests them or files charges, the department would release their names. “Saying what charges are going to apply and how we’re going to go forward at this point in time it’s too premature to say, but there are several that just on the surface look like they would apply in this case,” Campbell said. Those charges include potential weapons misconduct, assault and reckless endangerment. Campbell said it’s up to the officer, the detective and the district attorney to determine what charges apply. He also said the incident could have been prevented had both parties observed basic handgun safety protocol. “There are handgun safety rules that if they would have been followed, this situation could have been avoided,” Campbell said. “And I don’t know what kind of training these two men might have had in handling firearms, but standard safety practices would definitely have avoided this situation.” Police believe alcohol was a factor, but Campbell couldn’t say whether that meant the victim, the 22-year-old or both. No other injuries were reported and the investigation is ongoing.
- OMAHA, NE, 4/17/17: The bullet that hit a 17-month-old girl passed through her face, penetrated the drywall of a utility closet and became embedded in the outer shell of a water heater, Omaha police said in a report. Officers filed a separate report on what they had to do to recover the bullet that critically injured Ma’Laya Buie. The girl was shot Monday afternoon in a third-floor apartment at the Pine Tree Apartments, 10375 Hamilton Plaza. Ma’Laya’s father, Marquell Buie, 22, has said that the shooting was accidental and that another toddler had fired the shot. Officials are continuing to investigate the shooting. Marquell Buie said Tuesday that doctors were trying to reduce the swelling in his daughter’s head. Police forensic investigators had to cut a hole in the drywall to gain access to the spot on the water heater hit by the bullet, according to the report. The outer shell of the water heater was cut and peeled back to provide access to the inner insulation, police said.
- RAINBOW CITY, AL, 4/17/17: A Southside man well-known and well-regarded in the community died from an apparent accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound Monday morning at Exchange Bank in Rainbow City. Roy Christopher Daniel, 54, was found at the bank, where he worked as a manager, just after 7:30 AM, Rainbow City Police Chief Jonathon Horton said, by the next bank employee to arrive at work. Police secured the scene and continue to investigate the incident, he said, but after viewing security camera recordings, Daniel’s death is believed to be an accident. Daniel usually arrived at the bank about 7:20 AM, the chief said, and he usually carried a gun for personal protection. “He was very security conscious in his position at the bank,” Horton said. “He would come in and make sure the bank was safe.” “This morning there wasn’t anything wrong, but it appears that he was alarmed of something,” Horton said, after viewing the surveillance footage. “He had his weapon there with him, and as unfortunate, as tragic, as it sounds ... he accidentally discharged his weapon and it ended his life,” he said. “Mr. Daniel was a good friend to the city,” Horton said. “He participated on many levels. He was a good friend to all of us—a personal friend. “It’s just a tragedy. We ask people to pray for his family,” the chief said.
- CHICKASAW CO., MS, 4/17/17: Chickasaw County Sheriff Jim Meyers says he responded to a Chickasaw County house after a report that Lekearis Shoemaker shot himself. The sheriff said the man’s cousin heard gunshots and walked outside of this house to find Shoemaker shot in the abdomen. “Our office received a call that somebody had received a gunshot wound. When our deputies got there, they had already put the suspect in a vehicle and carried him to the hospital," said Meyers. He says Shoemaker's cousin rushed him to Trace Regional Hospital in Houston, and he was then flown to North Mississippi Medical Center. The man is in critical condition in the intensive care unit. The sheriff says he's treating the incident like an accidental shooting until he interviews the man. “Right now, we really don’t know. He’s a young male. We’re trying to determine all that now. Like I said, we’re trying to go back now and interview neighbors to see if anybody saw anything," said Sheriff Meyers. No neighbors were available for comment. The sheriff says one round was fired.
- ANTIOCH, CA, 4/17/17: Two men were arrested after one of them attempted to shoot Pittsburg officers in a shopping center parking lot Monday afternoon, police said. Around 4 PM, Pittsburg officers followed a stolen vehicle into the parking lot at Costco, 2201 Verne Roberts Circle, Pittsburg police Capt. Ron Raman said. As the vehicle’s driver stopped and officers got out to approach it, the vehicle’s front-seat passenger fired once at officers before the car sped away, Raman said. While fleeing, the passenger accidentally shot himself, and both vehicle occupants were arrested after a brief pursuit, Raman said. Police arrested and identified the driver as Harrison Thomas, 48, of Concord and the passenger, who had recently been released from prison, as Nathaniel Sheppard, 28, of Pittsburg. Both men will be booked into Martinez county jail on suspicion of attempted murder on a police officer, along with other felony charges. “We are grateful that none of our officers or community members were hurt as a result of the violent acts of these suspects,” Raman said in a statement.
- STEVENS POINT, WI, 4/17/17: Two teenagers ran from an apartment after one of them accidentally fired a shotgun into the floor and hit himself in the foot during an armed robbery April 16 in Stevens Point, according to a criminal complaint filed last week. David Schmies, 18, and Zachary Hendricks, 17, both of Iola, face multiple charges, including armed robbery, a felony with a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison. They both appeared Monday in Portage County Circuit Court to hear the charges filed against them, according to court records. Schmies and Hendricks demanded cash and marijuana before they ordered two people inside the apartment to the ground and bound their hands with zip ties, the complaint says. Schmies was wearing a paintball mask, while Hendricks was wearing a bandana over his face. Schmies was pacing in the apartment, waiting for Hendricks to return with the cash and marijuana, when the shotgun he was holding suddenly went off, the complaint says. Schmies and Hendricks started yelling at each other, then ran from the apartment with about $2,500 and nearly a pound of marijuana. Police sent photos of Schmies and Hendricks to officials at Amherst High School, who recognized Schmies because he was a current student, the complaint says. Schmies initially denied involvement in the armed robbery, but later admitted his role in the incident after giving officers inconsistent explanations for an injury to his foot, which was wrapped in electrical tape and “appeared to be infected and swollen,” the complaint says. Hendricks admitted his involvement in the armed robbery when he was confronted by police, the complaint says. Schmies and Hendricks are both still being held on $25,000 cash bonds. They’re scheduled to be back in court May 15.
- NEWARK, NJ, 4/18/17: A man who accidentally shot himself Tuesday night was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. Newark police said Davon Johnson, 28, of Orange, arrived at University Hospital around 11:15 PM with a gunshot wound. It was not clear where he was shot. Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose said the location of where the shooting happened remains under investigation.
- HOUMA, LA, 4/18/17: Another suspect has been arrested in connection with last week’s shooting death of a 25-year-old Ashland man, police said Tuesday. Landry Watkins, 22, of Kevin Street in Houma, turned himself in to the Houma Police Department shortly after noon Tuesday, Police Chief Dana Coleman said. Watkins is the fourth suspect charged in the April 19 second-degree murder of Daronte Howard of Mozart Drive. Houma resident Travelyn Warren Gims, 31, of 103 Tulane St. was arrested Thursday, and Jerod Mosley, 27, of Morrison Avenue in Houma, surrendered to authorities Saturday afternoon. The fourth suspect, Michael Dewayne Diggs Jr., 34, of 1157 Lafayette St., had originally been charged for the murder but was released after authorities said Thursday they received “credible information” from independent witnesses that Diggs had not been involved. Coleman said that detectives obtained additional information in the investigation which led to Watkins’ arrest. Since his arrest, Watkins has been cooperating with authorities, Coleman said. Investigators said Howard and a friend were sitting inside of a vehicle that had been parked in front of a residence on Larry Street about 10:30 PM when Gims climbed into the car’s rear passenger side and two or three suspects dressed in dark-colored clothing approached. Howard and Gims began fighting as one of the other suspects robbed Howard’s friend at gunpoint, police said. Howard was shot in his upper torso during the scuffle, and Gims and the other suspects fled the scene. Howard then drove himself to Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma, where he died from multiple gunshot wounds, the police chief said. Gims was involved in planning the robbery, and the other suspects were developed as accomplices, investigators said. Gims shot himself in the leg with a handgun during the struggle and was taken to a local medical facility, where he was treated, police said. Once released, Gims was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. All three remaining suspects are in the Terrebonne Parish jail on a $500,000 bond. Gims is also being held with no bond for a parole violation, the Sheriff’s Office said.
- DAVIESS CO., KY, 4/19/17: The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the report of a gunshot victim with serious blood loss at 12:20 PM yesterday on Kentucky 405. According to DCSO, when emergency crews arrived, they discovered William P. Mullens with a gunshot wound to his leg and pelvic area. Investigation revealed the gunshot was accidental and occurred due to Mullens handling a .40 caliber handgun that he didn’t realize was loaded. Authorities say Mullens was sitting in his truck during his lunch break handling the gun when it discharged once striking him in the leg. Prior to the arrival of emergency crews, Mullens was assisted by co-workers and a neighbor to prevent further blood loss. Dispatchers were also providing instructions over the phone until emergency crews arrived. Yelvington Volunteer Fire Department, Daviess County Fire Department and Owensboro/Daviess County Ambulance assisted at the scene. Mullens was transported to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital for further treatment. No charges were filed by DCSO.
- ST. LOUIS, MO, 4/19/17: A 13-year-old was hospitalized after accidentally shooting himself on a north St. Louis porch Wednesday afternoon. Around 3:40 PM, the teenager was playing with a loaded gun on the back porch of his home in the 1900 block of Hebert when it went off and a bullet struck him in the hand, police said. The teenager was taken to the hospital and listed in stable condition. According to police, the gun was not found at the scene. The investigation is ongoing.
- PITTSTON TOWNSHIP, PA, 4/19/17: Thanks to the powers of the Internet—and social media—police have charged a man that allegedly gave a phony story about how he sustained a gunshot wound to the foot. Kyle Garrison, 25, initially told police he sustained a gunshot wound to his foot when he was robbed by two men at gunpoint. Officers learned the truth, according to court documents, by taking a look at Garrison’s Facebook page. According to the criminal complaint: Officers were dispatched to 130 Stephenson St. at 10:18 AM on April 20 for a report of a man who was shot approximately two hours prior. The victim, identified as Garrison, was found sitting on the porch of the residence and being treated by EMS workers for an injury on his right foot. Garrison reported that he was walking north on North Main Street when two black men wearing black hoodies and dark jeans jumped out and demanded his possessions. Garrison reported that one of the men pointed what looked like a .357 revolver at him, and when he slapped it down, it went off and the shot struck him in the foot. Officers asked to see Garrison’s phone, but he denied them access. Garrison then claimed that someone unknown to him called after the incident. Garrison’s Facebook account, however, told a different tale. Officers looked up Garrison’s Facebook account, and discovered three separate videos posted several hours before the alleged incident. The video depicted three men consuming alcohol and shooting a revolver. One of the men pointed the revolver toward the ground and fired a shot. In another video, Garrison could be heard stating he was shot several times, and the video then showed his foot with a wound to the big toe. Garrison also posted on his page that he had been shot in the toe. Investigators also learned that Garrison has a prior felony conviction that prevents him from using or possessing a firearm. Garrison was interviewed by police on May 3 and read his Miranda warnings and agreed to speak with officers. Garrison said he and his friend, Sean Granahan, met up with two other men at the Saints and Sinner’s bar on April 19. Garrison said the trio then went back to Granahan’s residence to get more alcohol to go ATV riding. That is when Granahan retrieved the firearm, and the trio then went to an area in Pittston Township known as “the pick” near Devil’s Falls. Garrison admitted to posting the videos on social media, and that Granahan shot him in the foot when he pointed the gun downward. Garrison also told police he later deleted the videos in hopes they would not be seen by law enforcement. Garrison also said he “got scared” when he called 911 and made up the story when he found out police would have to respond with the ambulance. Garrison was arraigned on charges of possession of a firearm prohibited and making false reports before District Judge Alexandra Kokura Kravitz on Wednesday, and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Kravitz at 9:30 AM on May 24. He is free on $25,000 unsecured bail.
- JULIAETTA, ID, 4/20/17: A woman reported she accidentally discharged a firearm inside her house shortly after 9:30 PM Thursday on the 300 block of Ward Street in Juliaetta, according to the Latah County Sheriff’s Office. The woman told a deputy she had her firearm out due to a recent incident and she was in the process of putting the firearm away. She said she de-cocked the firearm and is not sure how it fired. No injuries were reported and the woman was not charged. The sheriff’s office said the woman’s sliding glass door was damaged as a result of the discharge but a deputy did not find any damage to surrounding residences.
- DALTON, GA, 4/21/17: UPDATE: The Dalton Police Department is investigating today's fatal shooting at an office at the A1 Towing & Recovery lot as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Department spokesman Bruce Frazier said there's a possibility that this was an accidental shooting as opposed to an intentional act on the part of the victim. Frazier apologized for using the term suicide earlier, which would imply intent. PREVIOUS UPDATE: Dalton Police Department investigators believe a man committed suicide by shooting himself today at an office at the A1 Towing & Recovery lot. In a release, spokesman Bruce Frazier said investigators found a gun under the desk where the person was found. Also, surveillance footage does not show anyone walking in or out of the office before the shooting, which was reported to the police around 12:30 PM. ORIGINAL STORY: Police are investigating a shooting today that claimed the life of a man at A1 Towing & Recovery lot in the 1500 block of E. Morris Street in Dalton, Ga. Officers were dispatched about 12:30 PM on the report of a shooting victim being found in an office at the lot, according to Bruce Frazier of the Dalton Police Department. Responding officers found a male victim with an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was transported to Hamilton Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, according to Frazier. The victim's identity has not been released. Officers have secured the scene and are investigating but no arrests have been made.
- WEST PALM BEACH, FL, 4/21/17: The father of former Florida State football star Travis Rudolph was killed when authorities say a gun accidentally went off at a Florida strip club. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said Monday that 55-year-old Darryl Rudolph was in a storage room fixing items at Sugar D’s Adult Club in West Palm Beach when another worker moved a gun off a shelf in an adjacent room and it fired. The bullet struck Rudolph in the back of the neck on Friday. Wide receiver Travis Rudolph led Florida State in receiving the past two seasons and is forgoing his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL draft this week. Travis Rudolph made headlines last year when he ate lunch with an autistic middle school student who was sitting alone. A photo of the pair was shared online and the story went viral.
- OCALA, FL, 4/21/17: Ocala Police Department officers were investigating two separate shootings that occurred less than 15 minutes of each other on Friday evening. At 7:28 PM, while officers were investigating the first shooting, they received a call about the second one, across town at Steeples Apartments at 2901 SW 41st St. In the incident, a man—whose name was not released—was critically injured. Police aid he was shot be his female roommate, who feared an intruder. They were the fifth and sixth shootings since Wednesday afternoon—in which a total of five people have been injured.
- HARRISBURG, PA, 4/21/17: Charges of attempted homicide have been filed against a man who shot a woman after mistaking her for an intruder last week, according to police in Harrisburg. Saivon Markel Waller, 22, has also been charged with aggravated assault for the April 21 shooting that injured Chave Miller, according to court records. Officers were called to the 1600 block of North Third Street just after 5 PM after receiving a report of shots fired in the area, records state. Miller was found in the doorway to 1623 North Third Street with gunshot wounds to her left thigh and left pelvic area, police said. "Waller was sitting in the doorway to the apartment building. Waller did admit on scene that he shot Miller as she was coming up the steps to his apartment because he thought she was an intruder," court records state. Court records did not include additional information about the incident. Waller is currently being held in the Dauphin County Prison on $500,000 bail. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 3.
- AKRON, OH, 4/21/17: Authorities say a 17-year-old was killed Friday afternoon during an accidental shooting in Akron. Officers responded to a shooting on the 600 block of Fulmer Avenue around 1 PM. They found a 17-year-old with a fatal gunshot wound to his chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Dylan Ray Hudson, 18, of Akron, has been charged with reckless homicide and receiving stolen property in the shooting. The gun had been reported stolen from a car on Lansing Road. Hudson has been booked into the Summit County Jail. The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy. The victim's name is being withheld pending positive identification and family notifications. Authorities say the shooting appears to be accidental.
- INDIANAPOLIS, IN, 4/21/17: Metro police are investing after a 4-year-old child was injured by a gun. Police say it appears the child got a hold of a gun and was possibly pinched by the slide when the gun went off. Police say the child is in good condition and was treated on the scene.
- BROKEN BOW, NE, 4/21/17: The Custer County Sheriff's Office received a report of an unknown accident on the school ground just off of Ryno Road Friday, April 21, 2017 at 11:07 AM. Sheriff Dan Osmond and Deputies responded and conducted an investigation. The investigation revealed that a male subject identified as Thomas A. Essig (date of birth 08-24-1969) of Longmont, Colo. had been accidentally shot in the face at a distance of approximately of 170 feet with a shotgun by his hunting partner Kevin J. Scannell (date of birth 03-09-1966) of Fraser, Colo. Essing was transported to Callaway District Hospital and later flown by helicopter to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney with non-life threatening injuries. The shooting has been ruled accidental.
- ELGIN, IL, 4/22/17: An Elgin man was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm after a friend was taken to an area hospital with a bullet wound, police said. According to Elgin police, officers were called about 5:53 AM Saturday to St. Alexius Medical Center, Hoffman Estates, for a gunshot victim. The person had serious injuries that were not life-threatening, police said. The person told police he was accidentally shot by a friend identified as Jeffery A. Cohn, 35, of Elgin, while they were at Cohn's house in the 100 block of Mosley Street in Elgin. Cohn was taken into custody at his residence. Following a warrant search, police found two firearms and ammunition, according to reports. Cohn was previously convicted on felony charges and he does not possess a valid Firearm Owners Identification card, police said. He was charged with three class 2 felony counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, in addition to the class 4 reckless discharge count. Bail was set at $50,000.
- PENNINGTON CO., SD, 4/22/17: Authorities have released the name of a Rapid City man who accidentally shot and killed himself while hunting over the weekend. The Pennington County Sheriff's Office says 63-year-old Timothy Coats was found dead Sunday on U.S. Forest Service land off of South Dakota Highway 44. His family says Coats did not return from turkey hunting Saturday. He was hunting alone. Investigators say he apparently accidentally shot himself while crossing a barbed wire fence.
- HAWLEY, MN, 4/22/17: A boy under the age of 18 has been taken to Sanford medical center in Fargo after being shot. Clay County Sheriff Department is saying that at 1:45 PM this afternoon a juvenile male accidentally shot another juvenile male outside of Hawley, Minnesota. On scene was Hawley City Rescue, Sanford AirMed, Fargo Medical Ambulance and the Clay County Sheriff Department. No charges have been placed at this time. The investigation is still ongoing. The injury is said to be non-life threatening.
- ARLINGTON, IA, 4/22/17: A man was accidentally shot near Arlington over the weekend. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office says one of their deputies was flagged down just north of Arlington near 90th Street and W-51 on Saturday morning. A passenger in the vehicle had suffered a gunshot wound to his ankle. The deputy performed first aid to the man, 50-year old Patrick Lynch of Grimes, until an ambulance arrived. A preliminary investigation shows Lynch was target-practicing with his 25-year old son on private property north of Arlington when a 9-mm pistol accidentally fired. Lynch was transported to Regional Medical Center in Manchester. The incident remains under investigation.
- DUBUQUE, IA, 4/22/17: Dubuque Police have identified the two men injured in an accidental shooting on Saturday night. 28-year-old Kyle Chase and 29-year-old Travis Lemonovich each suffered leg injuries after Chase inadvertently fired his handgun while showing it to Lemonovich. The incident happened at about 10:30 Saturday night at Chase’s home in the 2100 block of Garfield Avenue. Both men were taken to Finley Hospital to be treated for their injuries. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing. It’s unclear whether any charges will be filed.
- OGDEN, NY, 4/22/17: Ogden Police say that a dog attack led to an accidental shooting on Hutchings Road. Police say that people were out walking a dog. That is when another dog from another house in the neighborhood reportedly got loose and attacked the dog the people were walking. According to police, one of the individuals walking allegedly tried to shoot the attacking dog using a legally permitted gun, but accidentally shot another person they were walking with in the lower extremity. Police say the person shot was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. They say that the attacking dog is dead, while the dog that was attacked is reportedly fine.
- COLUMBIA, SC, 4/22/17: The Columbia Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened Saturday at the Dutch Square Mall. Police say after looking at video, the shooting appears to be accidental. No one was injured, however a shop window was damaged. Investigators say it appears that the man had a firearm inside a bag, and the gun went off when he dropped the bag on the floor inside the shopping center. Police released a photo of the person they are looking for to question about the incident.
- SPRING, TX, 4/22/17: An off-duty Harris County sheriff's deputy accidentally shot himself at a gun range Saturday. Just after 6 PM, authorities responded to a call at Spring Guns and Ammo on Spring Cypress. The injured deputy was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening wounds, authorities said. It's not clear where he shot himself or how the mishap occurred.