First, we’ll dispense with the grim but routine news: Our findings for the week of April 2 include nineteen people who accidentally shot themselves, nine kids accidentally shot, six accidental gun fatalities, six people who accidentally shot family members or significant others, four gun range accidents, three people who accidentally fired guns into their neighbors’ homes, and three who had gun mishaps while out shopping and dining among the general populace.
Okay, so much for the routine events! The unifying theme for the more remarkable events of this particular week is: No one is safe from the menace of GunFAIL. Not the Sheriff of Scott County, Kentucky. He fell down the stairs at home while carrying his gun, and accidentally shot himself in the shoulder. And broke his leg on the way down, by the way. And not the off duty Vanderbilt University police officer whose gun was accidentally fired into the downstairs apartment by a 19-year-old Vandy “community service officer” with whom he was drinking at his home. Just two super-responsible guys with guns, one of whom is authorized to carry on campus. But who also drinks with underage students.
Not that students on campus need outside excuses to accidentally fire their weapons, of course. That’s what happened to a permit-holding student at the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, Minnesota. The school has a zero tolerance policy against weapons on campus, but for whatever reason, that didn’t stop our permit-holding and (presumably) previously law-abiding student from bringing his gun to his dorm room. Nor did the training for the permit prevent him from accidentally firing that gun through the walls of the dorm and grazing the head of the student living next door. Another case of someone bringing a gun to school in case of a campus shooter, and ending up being the campus shooter.
What are they teaching people about basic gun safety at the nation’s gun ranges these days, anyway? Well, whatever they were teaching at the OK Corral Shooting Club in Okeechobee, Florida, couldn’t have helped much. Not when a competitive shooter there became so excited after his performance that he accidentally shot himself in the thigh while attempting to “bust a move” in a celebratory dance. Nor was it any better at the highly esteemed Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, New Hampshire, when a trainee accidentally shot himself in the leg while holstering his gun. (This is the second time the gun manufacturer’s own training academy has made our GunFAIL lists.) So, how do you top accidentally shooting yourself at a gun manufacturer’s training facility? Why, you shoot yourself at NRA headquarters, of course! As a NRA employee, no less! Just like our trainee in Epping, this victim accidentally shot himself in the leg while holstering his weapon during a training session at their on-site range.
Accidentally shooting yourself at the training range at NRA headquarters has got to be the topper, I would think. What a week! Thanks, gun experts! Keep on keeping us all safe!
- KANSAS CITY, KS, 4/02/17: An accidental shooting sent one person to the hospital with minor injuries on Sunday. Police said shortly before 11:30 AM, an accidental shooting occurred in the parking lot of Cabela’s in KCK. Police did not say exactly how that shooting happened, or precisely how he was injured, but said the man is expected to be okay.
- CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, 4/02/17: Police are investigating a tragic accidentally shooting that occurred Sunday morning at a home in the 1000 Block of Vaky Street. CCPD says the call came in as a shooting, and when they got to the home they found a 2-year-old boy had shot himself in the face. He was rushed to CHRISTUS Spohn Memorial, but died a short time later. Neighbors were shocked by the incident.
- SAN ANTONIO, TX, 4/02/17: The Bexar County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday it is planning to file charges against the parent of a 4-year-old child who shot itself in the hand over the weekend in Stone Oak. Deputy Loraine Antu, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said the child is still recovering from the gunshot wound. The incident happened around noon Sunday in the 24100 block of Acanthus. "A parent in the household left the weapon unattended," said Deputy Leonard Lopez, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, in a written statement. No further details regarding the shooting have been released. Deputies said they are "in the process" of filing charges, apparently against one of the child's parents, for making a firearm accessible to a child with injuries. An unidentified family member took the child to the hospital, where BCSO officials were dispatched to investigate the incident.
- MILWAUKEE, WI, 4/02/17: A young boy is hurt and his mother is in custody after police said she left a handgun within his reach on Milwaukee’s north side. Police said the 4-year-old boy accidentally shot himself Sunday afternoon at a house near 60th and Hampton. He was taken to the hospital for injuries, but is expected to survive. The accident left nearby neighbors in shock. “It’s terrible, I don’t know how that’s even possible to be honest,” said Artesha Mason. “The gun should have been put up.” Mason lives a few houses down from where the boy accidentally shot himself. “I don’t really understand how a child could handle a gun to be honest with you especially a hand gun but I know it happens,” she said. The boy was rushed to the hospital and his mother was arrested. As a veteran, Mason said this accident reinforces something she practices in her own home. “I was in the Army so gun safety and all of that is very important to me.” As a mother of two children, she’s heartbroken for all who were involved. “I can’t imagine what the mom is going through, the family or anything and just prayers that he makes it through,” said Mason. This case will be reviewed by the District Attorney’s office later this week. The mother’s name has not been released.
- LITTLE ROCK, AR, 4/02/17: One man is recovering after accidentally shooting himself in his testicle in a hotel hallway Sunday. On April 2, shortly before 8 PM, officers were called to the Extended Stay America Hotel at 10800 Kanis Rd. in regards to a shooting. Jacob Shelby, 34, of Greenbriar told police he was walking down the hall to his hotel room when he "mishandled" his 9mm handgun and accidentally shot himself in the left testicle. Police say there were two children in the hotel room at the time, a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old. The children's mother, Amanda Beckham, 36, of Little Rock, came to pick the children up after the incident. Police say they confiscated the gun to turn over to crime scene investigators. Shelby was taken to Baptist Hospital and doctors say his injures are not life threatening.
- DILLON, SC, 4/02/17: A Dillon man is recovering in the hospital after he accidentally shot himself in the calf during a fight. The fight happened at the Ebony Inn on South MacArthur Avenue in Dillon, according to Dillon Police Chief David Lane. Lane said the man who shot himself will be charged with felony possession of a firearm when he's released from the hospital. The man's name isn't being released at this time.
- RICHMOND, VA, 4/02/17: Police are investigating, after they say a teen girl was shot in the leg. We're told the incident happened around 11 AM Sunday, in the 1900 block of Redd Street. Police believe the shooting is accidental, and say the gun involved may have accidentally discharged. Officers say they're still investigating, but right now, they are not looking for a suspect.
- LEHIGH ACRES, FL, 4/02/17: A Lehigh Acres man says he was startled into accidentally shooting himself when his dog started barking. 50-year-old Matthew Cole told Lee County investigators that it happened around 10 PM Sunday in his home on Cherokee Avenue. According to a Lee County Sheriff's Office incident report, Cole says he was asleep in a recliner with a loaded .25 caliber handgun on a table next to him. He says one of his dogs, who was asleep at his feet, started barking, causing Cole to jump up and knock the gun off the table. The gun hit the floor and discharged, striking Cole in the left thigh. Doctors at Lehigh Regional confirmed the wound as a gunshot wound, with the bullet still in the leg.
- TUSCALOOSA, AL, 4/03/17: Police believe a teenager who was showing off a gun Monday afternoon when he accidentally shot a friend in the shoulder. Witnesses told investigators that the suspect, 17, the victim, 18, and others were hanging around a vehicle in the 600 block of Crescent Ridge Road East at 4 PM Monday. The 17-year-old pulled out a pistol and waved it around, said Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit assistant commander Capt. Kip Hart. The gun went off, striking an 18-year-old woman in the shoulder. The injury wasn’t life-threatening. The teenager remained at the scene and spoke to officers who responded before he was taken into custody on the misdemeanor charge. “Based on the reckless actions, the 17-year-old was charged with third-degree assault and placed in juvenile detention,” Hart said.
- CHICAGO, IL, 4/03/17: A 26-year-old man who claimed to have been the victim of a drive-by shooting in Dunning was later determined to have accidentally shot himself in his leg Monday evening, police said. At 5:54 PM, the man walked into Resurrection Medical Center with a gunshot wound in his lower leg, according to police. The man told officers that he had been standing in an alley near the 3600 block of North Harlem Avenue when a black SUV pulled up with four men inside, one of whom fired four shots. It was later determined that the man "shot himself by accident," police said.
- WICHITA, KS, 4/04/17: A 12-year-old boy has been killed in an accidental shooting. It happened around 7 PM in the 9700 block of Westlawn, near 21st and Maize. Wichita police tell KSN that when they arrived they found the boy not breathing with a gunshot wound. Police tell us the boy later died from his injuries. They say the gunshot was self-inflicted.
- BLUFFTON, IN, 4/04/17: A man was killed Tuesday night in what Bluffton Police believe was an accidental shooting. Police and medics were called just after 9 PM to a home at 503 W. Wiley St. on a report of a shooting. Officers arrived to find a man down in an upstairs bedroom, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was identified as 21-year-old Jericho Kobryn. Bluffton Deputy Police Chief Kyle Randall said friends of Kobryn told investigators that he had a gun and had been showing it off and playing with it throughout the day. Tuesday night, he was in the bedroom with his friends with the gun out again when it discharged, Randall said. Investigators believe the fatal self-inflicted gunshot to the head was accidental, according to Randall. No one else was hurt in the incident.
- BANNING, CA, 4/04/17: A man was found with a gunshot wound Tuesday night, April 4, after an accidental shooting was reported near Banning. As the investigation was in its early stages, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department was considering it an accidental shooting, Deputy Michael Vasquez said. The incident was reported at 8:50 PM in the 47000 block of Morongo Road, north of Banning. The injured man was hospitalized with what were considered injuries that were not life-threatening, Vasquez said. His vital signs were stable Wednesday, Vasquez said.
- RUSSELVILLE, KY, 4/04/17: A Lewisburg man is listed in stable condition at a Nashville hospital after he accidentally shot himself. Marvin Miller, 24, of 2405 Quality Road, approached a home at 357 Mud River Church Road in Russellville at 1:05 PM Tuesday and told the occupant that he had accidentally shot himself, according a news release from the Logan County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Wallace Whittaker arrived and spoke to Miller, who told deputies he had a .38-caliber Derringer handgun in his right jacket pocket. Miller said when he had removed the jacket and tossed it onto the ground, the weapon discharged and the projectile hit his right side, according to the release. Miller was taken by medical helicopter to TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville, where he was listed in stable condition Tuesday afternoon, according to the release.
- GEORGETOWN, KY, 4/05/17: Scott County Sheriff Tony Hampton was in the hospital Wednesday morning, recovering from an accidental gun shot wound. County Judge-Executive George Lusby said Hampton fell down a flight of steps in his house Wednesday morning, and his gun went off and shot him in the shoulder. Hampton also broke a lower leg bone in the fall, Lusby said. Hampton was listed in fair condition at University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital. Lusby said he was expected to be released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon.
- NICEVILLE, FL, 4/05/17: A 36-year-old convicted felon who accidentally shot himself was arrested for possessing a weapon. Officers responded to the home after receiving a 911 call about a man who had possibly shot himself. A witness told Niceville Police Department officers that the suspect was showing him the gun while his finger was on the trigger. The suspect then loaded the magazine, pulled back the slide and fired one round into his left hand, the witness said. The suspect has eight prior felony convictions. The gun he shot himself with was a stolen Glock, according to his arrest report. He told officers he found the gun behind the stove while cleaning. He said he thought it was a hammer and he picked it up and it went off.
- ARLINGTON, TX, 4/05/17: A suspect and victim both suffered gunshot wounds during a robbery in north Arlington on Wednesday evening, police said. The incident happened about 7 PM in the 2400 block of Ascension Boulevard, near Brown Boulevard, said Sgt. VaNessa Harrison, police spokeswoman. A struggle ensued between the victim and the suspect, Raymond Williams, 37. During the struggle, Williams shot the victim and himself, Harrison said. Williams and the victim were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Williams faces a charge of aggravated assault, Harrison said. Police were still investigating late Wednesday.”
- EPPING, NH, 4/05/17: A man suffered a gunshot wound to the leg Wednesday when he accidentally shot himself during firearms training at Sig Sauer Academy, police said. Police and rescue personnel responded to the training facility at 233 Exeter Road just before noon after receiving a report of a man with a gunshot wound to his lower right calf. Police Capt. Jason Newman said the accidental shooting happened while the man was holstering a handgun during civilian training. Initial reports were the victim is 59 years old, but Newman was unable to confirm the age. The injured man was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Fire Chief Don DeAngelis said Sig Sauer has its own paramedics on hand to assist with such incidents, so the victim received immediate care. “They do such a great job treating and packaging so they’re ready to go when we get there. Sig Sauer is very responsive with their EMS,” DeAngelis said. The chief said there have been several such shootings at the training facility in recent years. In January 2016, a civilian student suffered an accidental gunshot wound to the leg. Sig Sauer Academy provides firearms and tactics training and is often used by law enforcement and military personnel, but instruction also is available to civilians.
- MEMPHIS, TN, 4/05/17: A 19-year-old accidentally shot himself in the leg near the baseball field behind Raleigh-Egypt High School, according to Shelby County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Earle Ferrell. Memphis Police Department said the shooting happened around 2:30 PM. Officers arrived at the school to find the teen near the baseball field, which is located just behind the school. Shelby County Schools said the high school had already dismissed when the shooting victim was found. After learning of the shooting, local authorities and SCS security provided extra security for dismissal at the nearby elementary school. Investigators said the man who shot himself is not a student at the school. The good news is that he will be OK, but the scariest part of it all was that it all happened after school as several kids were heading home.
- NASHVILLE, TN, 4/06/17: A Vanderbilt University police officer resigned after his downstairs neighbor was nearly struck by a bullet fired through her ceiling, according to Metro Police. Jordan Thompson has been arrested and charged with gun possession while under the influence, supplying minors with alcohol and lying to Metro Police officers early Thursday morning. Additionally, his special police commission, which the Metro Nashville Police Department grants to sworn Vanderbilt officers, was rescinded at the direction of Chief Steve Anderson at the time of his resignation. MNPD officers responded to an Hermitage apartment complex at 1:25 AM where a woman reported a bullet entered her home through the ceiling and almost struck her. When officers went to the unit upstairs, they found Thompson, 23, Chase Whetstone, a 19-year-old Vanderbilt community service officer and two 19-year-old women. Thompson had a pistol in his waistband, according to police. After officers took the gun, police said all four guests denied knowledge about the gunshot "multiple times," until police found a bullet hole in Thompson's bedroom wall. Thompson then claimed that Whetstone accidentally discharged the pistol into the floor and then brought the gun to him, according to police. He told police that while he was trying to clear the gun after the initial shot, it discharged into the bedroom wall. Police said Thompson admitted he supplied the alcohol to the three teens, all of whom had been drinking, and that Whetstone admitted to firing the shot into the Canyon Ridge apartment below. Whetstone is charged with felony reckless endangerment, lying to officers, gun possession while under the influence and underage consumption of alcohol. The 19-year-old community service officer also resigned, university spokeswoman Ann Marie Deer Owens said. "Both Thompson and Whetstone were placed on administrative leave upon the VUPD’s learning of their arrests," Deer Owens said. "The two women who were in the apartment at the time of the arrests are unaffiliated with Vanderbilt." The two teenage women, Lauren Ramirez and Brittney Fox, were issued misdemeanor citations for underage alcohol consumption.
- FAIRFAX, VA, 4/06/17: A National Rifle Association employee accidentally shot himself while doing firearms training at the organization's headquarters, according to police. The 46-year-old man's pistol accidentally discharged Thursday afternoon as he holstered the gun in Fairfax County, Virginia, police said. The accidental shooting happened at the NRA's National Firearms Museum at 11250 Waples Mill Road in Fairfax. The employee suffered a minor wound to his lower body and was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said. Officers worked with the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office and no charges are expected, according to police. News4 has reached out to the NRA for comment, but has not received an immediate response.
- NEWPORT NEWS, VA, 4/06/17: A 12-year-old girl is recovering after she was accidentally grazed by a bullet on Thursday morning. Newport News Police say the shooting happened in the 600 block of Dresden Drive shortly before 7:30 AM. Investigators originally said the girl was upstairs in an apartment when a bullet appears to have gone through the window, and grazed her face. Police now believe the shooting was accidental, and the incident happened inside the apartment. She was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police are no longer searching for suspects. Investigators are consulting with the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office to determine if any charges will be filed.
- CHENEY, WA, 4/06/17: A 22-year-old man is facing reckless endangerment charges after police said he accidentally shot his brother in the leg. Court documents said the Cheney Police were called to a home on Gary Street on Thursday afternoon for a report of a person being shot. Officials said Reilly Moore, 22, and his brother were alone together in a downstairs bedroom and were handling a .40 caliber Beretta. According to court records, Moore was handling the weapon when it discharged and struck his brother in the leg. The brother was then taken to the hospital. Moore is now facing reckless endangerment charges.
- HUNTSVILLE, AL, 4/07/17: Just before 1 AM Friday morning a man was taken to Huntsville Hospital in critical condition after suffering a gunshot wound. In a tragic sequence of events, police say he was shot by his own father, who had mistaken him for a burglar at their home on Gardenside Drive. When the father realized what happened, investigators say he called 911 immediately. Neither men have been identified, but the shooting has been ruled accidental and Huntsville police confirm the father will not face any charges stemming from the incident. The son is expected to make a full recovery.
- PEKIN, IL, 4/07/17: A police investigation continues in the death of a 9-year-old girl, two weeks after she was mortally wounded in a reported accidental shooting in her Pekin home. Haylee Garrison never regained consciousness after she was shot in the throat with a handgun on April 7. With organ donations arranged and life support removed, she was pronounced dead four days later, on her birthday. Police said shortly after the shooting that Haylee and a cousin, also 9, found the handgun in a bedroom of the home at 1802 Victoria Drive that Haylee shared with her parents, a sister and two brothers. Further details of the accident, including how the weapon was stored, who owned it and how the child was shot, would eventually be released, a police spokesman said. Kevin Johnson, Tazewell County’s chief assistant state’s attorney, said Thursday his office will wait for the Police Department to submit its investigation report before determining whether any action is warranted in the case. Police were called to the home at about 7 PM. Hours earlier, Haylee celebrated her birthday with her third-grade schoolmates at Starke School on the last day of classes before spring break.
- ST. PAUL, MN, 4/07/17: St. Paul police confirm a University of St. Thomas student had a valid permit to carry when his gun accidentally went off in his dorm room Friday night, injuring another student. The university has a zero tolerance campus weapons ban. Yet on Friday night, a current student with a valid permit had his gun on campus in his dorm. Police report that he took the firearm from his holster, removed the magazine, and while transferring the gun to a safe lockbox, he accidentally pulled the trigger. The bullet tore through two walls, skimming the head of his Flynn Hall suite mate, 22-year old Paul Rousseau. "It might be an accident,” said Steve Linders, spokesman for the St. Paul Police Department. “We'll still investigate. By all accounts it appears to be an accident. It's still illegal discharge of a firearm possibly. We have investigator working on it." In addition to the Saint Paul police probe, the university has initiated its disciplinary protocol given the apparent violation of the school's code of conduct. Fox 9 has learned the gun owner, a 22-year old from Hermantown, was removed from campus and could face penalties as severe as expulsion. "First and foremost, I want to ensure the campus community that the safety of them on campus is the number one priority,” said Dan Meuwissen, University of St. Thomas public safety director. As for the victim, he underwent surgery and at last check remained hospitalized in good condition. Saint Paul police confirmed they will turn over their completed investigation to prosecutors, who will make final determination on any possible criminal charges.
- FORT MYERS, FL, 4/07/17: Lee County Sheriff's Deputies responding to a shooting after a man accidently shot his wife after cleaning his guns. According to a police report, on Friday, April 7, 2017, William Grida was sitting in the living room of his Fort Myers home with his wife cleaning his guns. After the cleaning, he says he loaded one of the guns and it went off. Grida's wife was struck in the right leg. She was trauma alerted to Lee Memorial Hospital. The extent of her injuries is unknown.
- HOUSTON, TX, 4/07/17: A woman is in the hospital Friday after police said her son accidentally shot her in the leg. Officials said they were called around 3:45 AM to the Chez Orleans Apartments on 7065 Bellfort, near Waltrip, where a woman had a gunshot wound to the leg. They said the son reported the shooting and said he accidentally shot his mother. She was taken to an area hospital and is expected to survive, officials said. Officers are Investigating reports that the son was using synthetic marijuana before the shooting.
- SHERMAN, TX, 4/08/17: An accidental shooting in the 1700 block of Texoma Parkway in Sherman left one man injured with a head wound and lead to the arrest of two others Saturday afternoon. The incident occurred shortly after 2:45 PM in the parking lot of the Wash Zone laundromat. Sherman Police Sgt. Riley Day said the victim, described as a 20-year-old man, and two other individuals were attempting to exit the parking lot of a shopping center on Texoma Parkway when one off the occupants allegedly fired a gun accidentally and struck the victim in the head. Day said the victim was located in the passenger seat, but he did not comment on where the shooter was seated. The victim was transported to Texoma Medical Center by ambulance in stable condition. “All shooting injuries are serious, but luckily for this gentleman ... all indications are that it was not life threatening,” Day said. Initial reports from some witnesses indicated the incident was a drive-by shooting or that a second vehicle was involved, but Day said all evidence pointed to the shooting occurring in the car itself. He added that there was no evidence of ill will or criminal intent and the incident appeared to be purely accidental. “Someone within the vehicle where the victim was shot is responsible for firing the round off,” Day said. “All information at this time shows the gun was fired by accident.” The two other occupants of the car were arrested shortly after 5:30 PM on charges of tampering with evidence. Following the incident, Day said the individuals attempted to hide evidence of the incident and provided police with “several pieces of bad information.” Day said it was too early to comment on any additional charges related to the shooting, noting that the investigation is still ongoing. Despite the severity of a shooting, Day said everyone was lucky that the situation was not more serious and no other individuals were injured. “We are very fortunate that after the firearm was shot off the bullet did not strike any innocent bystanders or people in this parking lot,” he said. “Not only are we lucky for that, we are lucky that the victim himself should be just fine.”
- ARLINGTON, TX, 4/08/17: Investigators believe the shooting death of a 21-year-old Arlington man was an accident, despite a different ruling from the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office. Arlington police responded to a report of shots fired around 5 PM on Saturday in the 1700 block of Aberdeen Drive. On arrival, they found Jake Nelson in his home dead of a gunshot wound to the head. A witness to the tragic accident told homicide detectives that Nelson was "playing with the gun" and "carelessly" handling it when it misfired. The Medical Examiner's office ruled Nelson's death a suicide. But because a witness was in the room when it happened, and there's no evidence that Nelson had suicidal thoughts, the Department is standing by its determination his death was an accident. A spokesperson for the Medical Examiner's office indicated Tuesday the suicide ruling would not change. An autopsy report will not be available for at least 90 days.
- OKEECHOBEE, FL, 4/08/17: A man competing in a shooting contest Saturday at the OK Corral Shooting Club over the weekend apparently became excited and shot himself. Deputy Jose Garduno, of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), said the victim of the accidental shooting was taken to the Raulerson Hospital emergency room for treatment. The report did not indicate if the victim was admitted to the hospital. The 34-year-old West Palm Beach man reportedly told the deputy he was taking part in a shooting competition and became excited. “(He) stated he began dancing with the firearm in his right hand. While ‘busting a move’ (he) accidentally pulled the trigger,” noted the deputy’s report. “(He) was unaware a round was in the chamber, therefore shooting himself in the leg.” Deputy Garduno also pointed out when he arrived at the gun range all firearms had been “… stored for safety,”—including the victim’s. The victim, added the deputy, was conscious and in high spirits. The bullet entered the upper right side of the man’s thigh then exited near the knee. The projectile then traveled down his leg and struck the top of his shoe. “(He) admitted the shooting was an accidental discharge,” added the deputy. According to Deputy Garduno no charges were filed. The OK Corral Shooting Club is located at 9449 N.E. 48th St.
- WICHITA, KS, 4/08/17: A shooting reported at a convenience store in east Wichita on Saturday may have been accidental, according to police. Just before 8 PM Saturday night, a 911 call referencing a man who had been shot led police to the QuikTrip at Central and Oliver, said a dispatch supervisor. In a news release sent Sunday morning, Wichita police said a 19-year-old man was discovered to have a gunshot wound to one of his legs. The man was taken to a local hospital shortly after 8 PM Saturday night in critical condition, the release said. Officers investigating the incident talked to a 34-year-old man who said he went to the QuikTrip store at Pawnee and Hillside in south Wichita with the 19-year-old Saturday night. The man said the 19-year-old waited in a vehicle while he went inside and when he returned, the younger man was bleeding and said that he had been shot. The 34-year-old man said he then drove the pair to the QuikTrip at Central and Oliver, where a police officer was flagged down for help, according to the release. A firearm was recovered by police from the vehicle that the two men were in. Police believe the younger man likely shot himself accidentally, though the release said the case is still being investigated.
- BRISTOL, WI, 4/08/17: A Kenosha man underwent surgery after an accidental shooting at the Conservation Club of Kenosha County and was expected to survive, authorities said Sunday. According to a Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department report, James M. Kloet, 64, was flown to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa after the 10:56 AM shooting at the range, 21320 85th St., Bristol. He was in critical condition at the hospital Sunday night, according to a Froedtert administrative representative. According to the report, Kloet was discovered lying on the ground at the range and was initially attended to by Bristol Rescue personnel. Kloet had been shot by another man, Donald E. Bekeleski, 72, of Elk Grove Village, Ill. Authorities recommended charging Bekeleski with injury by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. According to the report, Bekeleski was attempting to shoot a clay pigeon when his gun jammed. He told deputies he had pulled the trigger but nothing happened. He said he locked the action back and pointed the gun with the muzzle straight up. The man said he tried to retrieve the shotgun shell that did not fire, but was unable to. According to the report, he then tipped the muzzle of the shotgun down at a 45-degree angle and removed the shell. When he did so, the shotgun’s action closed and the gun fired. According to the report, Bekeleski said he did not have his finger on the trigger and did not know how it fired. He told deputies he did not know Kloet was standing to his left while clearing the gun but knew something was wrong when he heard the victim scream. The victim was about 20 feet away. According to the report, witnesses had warned the man in the past about firearm safety. Kloet was taken to Froedtert via Fight for Life helicopter and underwent surgery to remove multiple pellets from his stomach.
- LOWER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP, PA, 4/08/17: A 17-year-old Allentown boy who was shot and killed at a Lower Macungie Township home Saturday afternoon was hit with a shotgun blast, according to the coroner. Chris Perez, a 17-year-old Lehigh Career and Technical Institute student, died as a result of a shotgun blast, Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim said. However, Grim said he will not rule on the manner of Perez's death until officials receive toxicology test results and state police complete their investigation. According to the coroner's report issued Monday afternoon, Perez was at a home in the 3900 block of Orchard Road in Lower Macungie. About 3:51 PM Saturday, he was shot with a shotgun, Grim said. He was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, where he was pronounced dead at 4:37 PM. District Attorney Jim Martin on Monday said he had no updates on the investigation and state police could not be reached for comment. Martin said Sunday that several people were in the home at the time of the shooting. The home is at the end of a rutted dirt driveway. On Sunday, Perez's aunt, Somarie Astudillo, said the teens were passing around the gun when it went off, striking her nephew in the stomach. Her nephew was close friends with another teen who lives at the Lower Macungie home, Astudillo said. Astudillo said the family was still making arrangements for the teenager's funeral.
- TIMBLIN BOROUGH, PA, 4/08/17: State Police in Jefferson County are investigating after a 14 year old boy was allegedly accidentally shot in the head. Police say the Amish teen was found inside a home on East Market Street in Timblin Borough, Jefferson County, with a gunshot wound to the head, around 4:00 PM on Saturday, April 8. The victim had a gunshot wound in his left eye, from what police say, was an accidental discharge of a .22 caliber revolver, which was allegedly in the hands of the victim's younger brother. The victim was flown to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh UPMC and is in stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit.