FRI SEP 18, 2015 AT 07:55 PM PDT
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dumb: GunFAIL CXXXVIII
byDavid WaldmanFollow
43 Comments / 43 New
Six of the 41 guns discovered by TSA agents at airports around the country during the week of September 4 through September 10, 2015.
More of the usual. Seventeen people accidentally shot themselves. Five people accidentally fired bullets into their neighbors' homes or properties. Two people accidentally discharged weapons while out shopping or dining. Three people injured themselves at shooting ranges. Two people accidentally discharged still-loaded guns they were cleaning—one shooting himself, the other shooting someone else.
Like I said: More of the usual. Though on the "bright" side, only six kids were the victims of GunFAIL last week, and only two of them were fatally shot. Mind you, that's a "good" week.
One of the more unusual stories in the collection this week: A GunFAIL without a gun. Now, you might think that a GunFAIL without a gun doesn't belong here. But it takes a special kind of FAIL for a gunless incident to make our list. In this case, what's even more interesting than the fact that a bullet was dropped at a gun range and hit the floor at just the perfect (and rather improbable) angle so as to explode and give the dropper a shrapnel wound, is that we've actually seen this before. Exactly the same thing happened just under a year ago at a range in Lemoore, California. It's almost as if all GunFAIL—even bizarre GunFAIL, and even bizarre, gunless GunFAIL—is still somehow cyclical. Though admittedly, I have yet to see another toaster accident.
I have, however, seen this one several times before: Yet another wannabe cowboy who doesn't know that spinning a gun on your finger is something you can only (but still shouldn't) do with a single-action revolver, and not just any gun.
And in a new twist on an old favorite (that is, the bathroom GunFAIL) is our title entry, in which the world's worst babysitter, unable to safely manage the .45 tucked into his waistband (standard babysitting equipment, as we all know), accidentally fired his weapon straight through the bathroom wall and straight into his 8-year-old charge, who until then was sleeping peacefully in his bed. Sorry about that! Ten dollars off your next bill, Mom and Dad!
A full recounting of the week's failures is below.
KETTERING, OH, 9/06/15: Police in Kettering responded this morning to a reported accidental shooting in the 1500 block of Springhill Avenue. Officers and a medic were dispatched to the home around 10:13 AM. A man accidentally shot his wife in the ankle in the living room of their home, according to Kettering police at the scene. The woman was taken by a life squad to the Kettering Medical Center. The injury is not considered life-threatening. A detective has been assigned to investigate the incident. Police said the man is a concealed carry permit-holder and was preparing to go target shooting when the incident occurred. He was removing the magazine from the 9 mm handgun when a round was discharged and struck his wife, according to police. Charges, if any, will be up to the detective and the prosecutor’s office. MORE: According to police, the husband shot his wife in the ankle in the living room of their home. Officials said he was trying to show her how to operate the gun when he fired the shot. Police said they believe the incident was accidental.
PROVIDENCE, RI, 9/06/15: A man was sitting on the couch in a South Providence apartment when a bullet fired from the unit upstairs came through the ceiling and pierced his right shoulder early Sunday morning, police said. Two residents of the second-floor apartment were arrested following the shooting. Police responding to 168 Thurbers Ave. found the 20-year-old victim sitting in the back seat of a car parked outside and covered in blood, according to a police report provided by Maj. Thomas Verdi. The victim was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Inside the apartment, blood covered the kitchen floor and there was a bullet hole in the ceiling above the living room couch. The door to the upstairs apartment was locked and officers broke it down to get inside. In the apartment they arrested Dara Chav, 23, and Steven In, 30. A search of the residence uncovered "several jars of marijuana," drug paraphernalia, and a safe with $2,990 in cash plus papers recording what officers believed to be drug sales, the report said. Police also found a bag of ammunition, an empty rifle case, and a 12-gauge shotgun. The building was wired with security cameras that showed images of the exterior on a monitor in the apartment. Chav and In were both charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and conspiracy. Providence detectives are investigating the shooting and whether there will be additional charges brought against the suspects.
LAFAYETTE, LA, 9/06/15: A Lafayette teen is in trouble after allegedly firing a small caliber pistol this morning. Police arrived in the 2400 block of N.W. Evangeline Thwy. near Justin Street around 4:15 AM Sunday. According to police, a 16-year-old boy accidentally discharged a small caliber pistol and injured a 21-year-old female. The woman was transported to a local hospital where she is listed in stable condition. The teen faces a discharge of a firearm charge. The investigation is ongoing.
FORT MYERS, FL, 9/06/15: Fort Myers police say a 16-year-old accidentally shot himself Sunday, and he could face charges. It happened around 3 PM Sunday in the 100 block of Lucille Avenue. When police first responded, the 16-year-old said he was shot by someone in the shoulder while walking down the street. The teenager had non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital. Detectives met with the victim and witnesses and immediately began noticing discrepancies with various accounts of the incident. While at the hospital, the victim confessed to accidentally shooting himself with a firearm while exiting a vehicle. The investigation remains ongoing and possible criminal charges are pending.
SALEM, OR, 9/06/15: A man and woman ran to their neighbor's house on Sunday afternoon saying they'd accidentally shot themselves at their Salem home. Police were called out to the house on Duncan Avenue Northeast at around 5:30 PM. The man was shot in his side; he was taken to the hospital for treatment. The woman was shot in the hand and treated at the scene. Police at the scene said they are still trying to confirm whether the shooting was an accident.
LANSING, MI, 9/06/15: Lansing Police responded to reports of an accidental gunshot wound in the 500 block of Baker Street on Sunday night around 10 PM. A 53-year-old Lansing man suffered an accidental gunshot wound to the upper arm. Lansing police say the man was transported to an area hospital and at last check was in stable condition.
JACKSON, MI, 9/06/15: A man suffered what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg early Sunday during a fight outside a downtown bar. The injury was not thought to be life-threatening, Jackson police Sgt. Andrew Flint said. The man went to Allegiance Health. His condition as of about 7 p.m. on September 6 was not known. Police discovered the victim after an officer in the area of Veach's Office Bar, 213 N. Jackson St., heard four shots about 2 AM. He saw people fighting and running, Flint said. Flint was not certain how many people were involved but called it a large crowd. People were fighting and being "disorderly." Three people were arrested. The sergeant was not certain what brought about the fighting or what transpired inside the bar. People were leaving the business, he said, and there were several fights. Police did not find any weapons and the man with the injury was not armed when officers were present. He indicated he did not know who shot him, Flint said. An investigation continues.
HARRISON, TN, 9/06/15: A man is recovering after accidentally shooting himself at a local gun range over the holiday weekend. Although the man suffered a minor injury, gun owners say it's a reminder to always pay close attention on the range. It happened on Sunday afternoon at Carter Shooting Supply in Harrison. "One of our range members was out there shooting, and when he went to holster his gun, it went off. We're not sure if he had his finger on the trigger, if the holster hit the trigger, or if his gun malfunctioned," said owner, Kristi Manning. The experienced shooter and longtime shooting range member was rushed to the hospital. Manning said the incident serves as a reminder to shooters of all skill sets. "Don't get careless. I mean, you can get yourself in such a situation where you've done it so many times. Like this gentleman, he's done it so many times that, it just kind of happened. And it can happen to the best of us," Manning said. While the bullet just grazed the man's hand, it could've been worse. Manning said safety is first on the shooting range. "It's not something that we're trying to sweep under the rug. We want everyone to know we are still safe," she said. Carter Shooting Supply's gun range isn't open to the public. Everyone has to be a member or a guest of a member. All shooters must sign safety and liability waivers, and the rules on the range are clearly posted. Additionally, each shooting booth is separated by steel walls, in case an accident does happen. "If you do anything long enough, you're gonna have that accident to think 'Oh man, that could've really been bad.' It's kind of one of those things that bring you back into the careful state of things," said Manning. Again, this happened out on the shooting range and not inside the store. It is the first gun-related accident on the property since Carter Shooting Supply opened 14 years ago. The man injured is doing fine and was released from the hospital. MORE: One of the regulars is a 23-year old member of the military. Manning says he was in a stall doing target practice. His 1911-style pistol is a .45-caliber weapon that has seen action in every American conflict since World War I. On the firing range on Sunday afternoon, it happened quicker than it takes to explain it. "He was actually in his stall shooting," Manning says, "and when he went to holster his weapon that's when it went off. On our store video, you can see him back out quickly holding his hand."
NASHVILLE, TN, 9/07/15: A 28-year-old woman was shot in the head and lives to tell the story. Despite all she has been through, Tara Ellis is staying positive. Ellis was at an apartment complex in Bellevue with a group of people on September 7 when the man who lives there showed his gun to everyone. Metro police said another man was holding the gun when it accidentally went off, striking Ellis in the back of the head. “We were at a friend’s apartment. We were about to go to the movies and that’s kind of the last thing I remember other than waking up with the paramedics,” said Ellis. She was hospitalized at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center for over a week and released Tuesday. “It’s terrifying not being able to do simple things I could do last week,” said Ellis. Ellis told News 2 she can’t see out of her left eye, she has no feeling on her left side, and has to endure months of physical rehab. “Washing my hair is a huge issue it’s really difficult you know it’s hard to wash my hands or open the refrigerator,” said Ellis. “Way better than I should be doing,” she said when asked how she was. “I am more than fortunate, more than blessed. Just trying to stay focused on my rehab and becoming 100 percent again.” Metro police said they are still investigating the incident. “Educate yourself, educate your family on any kind of gun safety. It’s such a simple act and it can save so many lives,” said Ellis. Ellis doesn’t have insurance to cover the cost of physical therapy. A GoFundMe account was set up to help with the bills.
LONG BEACH, CA, 9/07/15: About an hour after last night's September 7 homicide, Long Beach Police Department responded a few blocks north to the area of 11th St./Daisy Ave . . . where someone carrying a gun suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound when the weapon he was carrying accidentally discharged.
EDGEWOOD, MD, 9/07/15: A Perry Hall man employed by the Baltimore County Police Department was suspended with pay after being charged with reckless endangerment on Labor Day in Harford County, police reported Tuesday. Stephen W. Ehatt, 25, of the 3800 block of Schroeder Avenue, was in a wooded area with his friend legally shooting firearms when they accidentally hit a vehicle on Edgewood Road, according to the report. Nobody was injured, the report said. Authorities determined that Ehatt and his friend had been shooting on Philadelphia at Edgewood roads when they “inadvertently shot in an unsafe direction” at 11 AM on Monday, September 7, according to a statement from the Baltimore County Police Department. Nobody was injured in the incident, which involved legally owned firearms, police reported. Ehatt, a probationary officer assigned to the Towson precinct of the Baltimore County Police Department, was charged with reckless endangerment and released on his own recognizance, police said. He was suspended with pay, according to police. His friend was also charged with reckless endangerment, police said. Maryland State Police was handling the investigation. Ehatt is scheduled to appear for a hearing on October 7 in Harford County District Court.
CASA GRANDE, AZ, 9/08/15: An 8-year-old Casa Grande boy was shot in the arm while sleeping in his bed early Tuesday when his babysitter accidentally discharged a handgun, police said. The boy was scheduled for surgery later Tuesday but is expected to recover from the wound. According to a Casa Grande Police Department press release, investigators determined that Mike Lee Dickey, 39, was removing his .45 caliber handgun from his waistband in the bathroom at about around 2 AM when it discharged. The bullet passed through two doors, striking the boy in his upper left arm while he slept in a nearby bedroom. The boy was transported to Banner Casa Grande Medical Center and then flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital for specialized treatment. Dickey was babysitting the boy for his parents at the time of the accidental shooting. No charges or arrest were made at the time of the shooting. Police have forwarded a report to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office for review of possible charges.
CINCINNATI, OH, 9/08/15: Police discovered a man with a gunshot wound after responding to Walnut Hills just after 8 PM Tuesday, Cincinnati police Sgt. Jeff Howell said. Authorities were called to an apartment in the 2600 block of Victory Parkway for a shooting and found a man inside who'd been shot in the stomach, police said. The victim was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center and was still in surgery at 10 PM, authorities said. Howell reported that two other men were in the apartment with the victim when they arrived. "It's very possible it was an accidental shooting," he said. The two other men were detained by police for questioning. It is unclear if they will face any charges. Police are not searching for any other suspects. The identity of the victim has not been released.
PAYNE, OH, 9/08/15: Warrants have been issued for two people following an incident in Payne last week. J. Tucker Harman, 26, of Bryan, and Mariah Beedle, 23, of Rockville, Ind., are being sought on several local charges plus out-of-state violations. Deputies responded to a call from Paulding County Hospital emergency room at 2:45 PM on Tuesday, September 8. They were told a man was being treated for an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the abdomen. It was discovered that Harman is wanted on a nationwide pickup order issued by the Parole Board Authority in Indianapolis for a parole violation. As he was transferred to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, authorities in Allen County, Ind. were notified of the situation. He left the hospital before Indiana law enforcement arrived. His companion, Beedle, gave a false name when she spoke with deputies. When this was discovered, it was determined she is wanted on a probation violation warrant out of Albion, Ind. There are now local charges for each. Harman is accused of defacing identification marks on a firearm and having weapons while on disability. Beedle is wanted for falsification and identification fraud. Harman told authorities he accidentally shot himself while twirling a .22 revolver “cowboy style” around his finger when it discharged. He was treated then transferred to Parkview.
PEORIA, IL, 9/08/15: A teenage boy is dead after a mysterious shooting on Peoria's south side. DeMarco Irby, 15, died Friday night following what appears to be an accidental shooting. It happened Tuesday in the 2100 block of West Starr Street. The coroner said Irby's injuries were consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police have released few details about what Irby was doing with the gun.
BATON ROUGE, LA, 9/08/15: A gunshot fired into the air by a Baton Rouge man wound up hitting a neighbor’s trailer, ricocheting into the occupied bathroom, and coming to rest in the bathtub, according to a police report. Rabindranaht Torralbas, 40, reportedly is accused of firing off “three to four rounds” outside his lot in the Cedarcrest Southmoor Mobile Home Village at 16015 Airline Hwy. at around 6 PM Tuesday, according to the report. No one was hurt in the incident, but one of the rounds went through the tin roofing on a neighboring trailer directly across the street and passed through the front bathroom wall before ricochetting off the shower wall and landing in the middle of the tub. The trailer’s owner told deputies his 14-year-old daughter was in the bathroom at the time. Baton Rouge sheriff’s deputies found two spent shell casings outside Torralbas’ trailer, and he advised deputies that his gun was in his pantry under a box of chocolate chip cookies, the report states. Torralbas was booked into the parish prison on counts of aggravated criminal damage to property and illegal use of a weapon.
FRISCO, TX, 9/09/15: A bizarre accident occurred at the Frisco Gun Club on Eldorado Parkway Wednesday. The manager says it happened shortly after 2 PM when a patron dropped a bullet, the powder ignited, and the shrapnel from the bullet went into his leg. They called police and ambulance and the man was taken to the hospital. No word on his condition.
WICHITA FALLS, TX, 9/09/15: Police are investigating an accidental death that occurred Wednesday afternoon. According to officials, around 2:44 PM a passerby saw a body on the floor of a half-open garage next to a vehicle in a residence in the 2500 block of McNiel. Police arrived on the scene and discovered 50-year-old Jeffrey Rohling dead, with a single gunshot wound to the torso. Police say the victim was carrying several items, including the gun, when the gun discharged and shot Rohling. It is currently being investigated as an accidental shooting. The body has been sent to Tarrant County for autopsy.
DEERFIELD BEACH, FL, 9/09/15: Three people were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a Deerfield Beach man during a botched marijuana drug deal, the Broward Sheriff's Office said Sunday. Authorities found the three Hollywood residents through what they called a "trail of electronic clues and misguided cover-ups." The drug deal was arranged through Facebook, police said. The victim and one of the suspects exchanged text messages, leaving a string of electronic evidence that led police to 19-year-old Alexander T. Glover, a 17-year-old male, and a 16-year-old female, said Gina Carter, spokeswoman for the Broward County Sheriff's Office. The Sun Sentinel is not naming two of the suspects because of their ages. Joseph Fernando Medina-Herrera, 21, died Sept. 9 at Broward Health North after he was shot in the chest near Northeast 44th Court and Northeast Third Avenue in Deerfield Beach. The 16-year-old arranged the deal with Medina-Herrera on Facebook on the same night, Carter said. Glover drove the girl and the 17-year-old to Medina-Herrera's house to buy several hundred dollars worth of pot, BSO said. When the trio arrived, Medina-Herrera got into the back seat of Glover's 1998 beige Toyota Camry, but during the transaction, Medina-Herrera and the 17-year-old male got into a fight, according to authorities. The male teen pulled out a handgun and shot Medina-Herrera in the back, Carter said. The bullet traveled through Medina-Herrera's body, exited his chest and then hit Glover in the leg, BSO said. Glover sought medical help at Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, BSO said. Glover told police from Hollywood and Pembroke Pines who responded at the hospital that he had accidentally shot himself in the leg after smoking pot.
LONGMONT, CO, 9/10/15: A Boulder County sheriff’s commander accidentally shot himself in the leg this morning while training at the department’s firing range near Longmont. The commander was taking part in routine training at the Longmont Police Department and Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Firing Range and Training Facility at 10916 Weld County Rd. at 9:40 AM when he accidentally fired a ball round from a .45-caliber handgun into his thigh while unholstering the gun, sheriff’s division chief Tommy Sloan said. Sloan said the commander was transported to Medical Center of the Rockies near Loveland to be checked out, but likely will be fine. Sloan declined to reveal the commander’s name because the sheriff’s office is still working to notify his family. Sloan said the commander didn’t initially realize he’d shot himself and continued firing through his practice found before notifying the range officer he was wounded a few moments later. “He really didn’t feel the pain from the shot,” Sloan said. “I think he’s more embarrassed than anything. He’s a 34-year-veteran of this office and a good solid cop. He’s always really good at pointing out mistakes other people make in a fun way, so this will be good ammo for the rest of us to return fire.” Sloan also said that when the commander shot himself, other sheriff’s office deputies administered first aid, using a tourniquet and gauze to stem the bleeding. “There was a deputy on the line who is an Iraqi war veteran, so he’s seen plenty of bullet wounds,” Sloan said. That deputy “said there was no exit wound and (the bullet) is probably in the femur, but didn’t get the artery because there wasn’t enough blood.” Sloan said accidentally firing a handgun while unholstering it is one of the more common handgun injuries, and he was glad this accident wasn’t more serious. “It can be very tragic, and that’s why we’ve got the necessary precautions with the range officer and the first aid kit right there,” Sloan said. Longmont police will be primarily handling the investigation into the incident and the sheriff’s office will be following up with an after-action review.
BATON ROUGE, LA, 9/10/15: One of the owners of a store on Airline Highway accidentally shot and wounded himself Thursday afternoon while getting into his car, the Baton Rouge police said. The victim, whom police did not identify, was on his way to another business owned by the family. As he pulled a handgun out of his back pocket outside the In and Out Wireless Store at 7310 Airline Hwy., the gun accidentally discharged, striking him in the leg, said Cpl. Don Coppola Jr., a spokesman for the Baton Rouge police. Coppola said the victim was taken to a hospital but his injuries are not life-threatening.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 9/10/15: Albuquerque police say a man accidentally shot himself while trying to elude deputies who caught him trying to break into a car at the Railrunner Station on El Pueblo Thursday afternoon. Police originally were called to the station on a report of a man who was trying to break into a Chevy Tahoe. When they arrived, they found 29-year-old Alberto Rodriguez-Macias near the Tahoe. When he saw them, he allegedly started ducking behind other cars in an attempt to get away from officers. He fled on foot, but officers eventually found him hiding in bushes. Once he was caught, they found he was bleeding from his abdomen. He told officers he had hidden a gun under a car in the station parking lot that had previously been hidden in his waistband. Police said it appeared he had accidentally shot himself. He was taken to UNMH for treatment and was released and booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center on unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, and possession of burglary tools charges. He also was booked on seven warrants for failing to appear in court on various charges that include criminal trespassing and possession of a controlled substance. He is being held without bond on one of the warrants. He also has $585 of cash-only bonds from the charges and warrants and $28,200 of cash/surety bonds.
PISCATAWAY, NJ, 9/10/15: A South Plainfield man who shot himself in the foot while camping in Piscataway has been charged with a variety of weapons charges. Bail for Patrick Monahan, 55, was set at $75,000 after he was charged on Thursday with unlawful possession of a weapon, certain persons not to have weapons, and possession of handcuffs. Monahan was arrested Thursday morning after he went to a walk-in medical facility on Route 22 seeking medical attention for a gunshot wound to his right foot, Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano said. Monahan told Green Brook police officers that he accidentally shot himself while camping in a wooded area in Piscataway, the prosecutor said. The South Plainfield resident also told officers that his gun was in his vehicle parked outside the medical office. Monahan was then taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. After getting a search warrant, detectives found a loaded Para 1911 .45-caliber pistol in Monahan's vehicle along with two loaded magazines, two ballistic vests, and a pair of handcuffs, Soriano said. Detectives then discovered that Monahan does not have a New Jersey Firearms Identification Card and is not employed in any law-enforcement capacity, the prosecutor said.
AUTAUGA, AL, 9/10/15: Accidental shooting in the 300 block of County Road 40. The victim shot himself in the leg while cleaning his gun.
BIRMINGHAM, AL, 9/11/15: A security guard was injured this afternoon when he accidentally shot himself at an indoor practice range. The shooting happened just after 1:30 PM at Security Engineers Inc. in the 1600 block of Third Avenue North. Authorities said the victim shot himself in the leg. He is expected to be okay. He was conscious, alert, and on his cell phone when he was transported by ambulance to St. Vincent's Hospital. Reporters were asked to leave the property. Security Engineers, Inc. was established in Birmingham in March 1961. The company, which provides security officers and services, now has more than 1,200 employees at multiple locations in several states.
CHICAGO, IL, 9/11/15: A 16-year-old boy was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg after apparently accidentally shooting himself, authorities said. The boy was in the 1200 block of East 79th Street in the Grand Crossing neighborhood on the South Side about 12:55 PM when he suffered the gunshot, police said. He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where his condition had stabilized.
INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP, MI, 9/11/15: A 45-year-old man and his wife were not injured after a shot fired on September 11 traveled through their Independence Township home before coming to rest in a refrigerator. An Oakland County Sheriff's Office deputy responded around 10:45 PM Friday to the home in the 5100 block of Pine Knob Trail for shots fired at a residence and spoke with the homeowner. The man told the deputy he was seated in a recliner when he heard a loud pop and his wife noticed a hole in the curtains. The man then spotted a hole that went through an interior wall of the home and stopped its flight in the back of a freezer. No one was seen or any vehicle heard after the shot was fired. The area near and around the home was searched for shell casings, including the use of a K-9, but investigators came up empty.
SCALY MOUNTAIN, NC, 9/11/15: A dispute between a landlord and a tenant in Macon County ended in gunfire last week. The Macon County Sheriff's Office says it happened Friday night outside Donald Miller's home in the Scaly Mountain Community. Investigators say he shot his landlord, Tim Dryman, after the two got into an argument. "Mr. Miller admits during the confrontation at one time he took a .44 and raised it up, pointed it at Mr. Dryman and according to Mr. Miller, the gun accidentally went off,” Sheriff Robbie Holland said. Holland says Dryman was shot in the upper arm but, he says, Miller took action after the gun went off. "He immediately rendered aid to the victim," Holland said. Holland says both men had guns, but there's no information indicating Dryman brandished his weapon. “Mr. Miller states that he saw the victim reach behind his back and at which time is when he pulled out the gun and pointed it at him,” he says. Dryman remains at Mission Hospital in fair condition. Miller is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. He's in jail on $250,000 bond and scheduled for court Oct. 1.
ATHENS, GA, 9/11/15: A Madison County man has been charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend at their home. According to the Athens Banner-Herald, Madison County Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Jimmy Patton says 35-year-old James T. Samples of Hull has told investigators that he accidentally shot 22-year-old Candace M. Welch on Friday evening in their yard. Samples drove Welch to an Athens emergency room, but she was pronounced dead at the hospital. Samples is charged with felony murder, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. It is unclear if Samples has an attorney to respond to the charges.
CANTON, GA, 9/11/15: The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said a man appears to have accidentally shot himself while being pit-maneuvered during a police chase on Friday. The incident happened on Interstate 575 around 8 PM when police saw a man matching the description of a carjacking suspect on Dr. John T. Pettit Street in a second carjacked vehicle. The man, later identified as Justin B. Goodwin, 36, of Jacksonville, Florida, was believed to be involved in the theft of a Dodge Ram pickup truck earlier in the day in Ball Ground, Ga. and was chased down the same interstate before pursuing officers lost sight of him headed toward exit 19 in Canton, Georgia. That’s why police had a perimeter set up and K9 units on the scene looking for the man. On the second police pursuit, the man didn’t have as much luck. Lt. Jay Baker with the sheriff’s office said a deputy pit-maneuvered his vehicle, forcing him to crash the stolen Dodge Caravan. But despite the resulting wreck, which Baker said in a release also damaged another vehicle, there was only one injury. That was a gunshot wound to Goodwin’s leg that apparently happened during the accident—and was self-inflicted. The Georgia State Patrol has taken over the accident investigation and Goodwin was transported to Kennestone Hospital for his injury. When he gets out, he faces charges of felony fleeing and attempted to allude, two counts of armed robbery, felony theft by taking, obstruction, and entering an automobile. Authorities expect additional charges.
FORSYTH, GA, 9/12/15: A Monroe County teenager is dead after "horseplay" with a gun. The fatal shooting happened Saturday around 1:30 AM at 175 Old Rumble Road, according to Allison Selman-Willis, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office public information officer. Gabryon Walker, 17, was taken to Medical Center, Navicent Health where he was pronounced dead at 2:45 AM. Two teenagers at the home told deputies the gunman, 18-year-old Kaleb Oliver Greene, ran into nearby woods after the shooting. "The suspect was horse playing," explained Selman-Willis. "It was really just being reckless with a weapon." Deputies searched the woods with the help of canines. Greene, who has a Byron address, was eventually located at a home in Houston County. He is in the Monroe County Jail charged with involuntary manslaughter, pointing a gun at another, and reckless conduct. "Depending on the investigation, there could be additional charges," said Selman-Willis.
MAD RIVER TOWNSHIP, OH, 9/12/15: A Clark County teen was accidentally shot in the chest Saturday, the Clark County Sheriff’s office announced in a Monday press release. The 17-year-old male was shot at a home in the 3300 block of Laura Lane in Mad River Township just before 7 PM and taken to the Springfield Regional Medical Center for treatment, according to the press release. The hospital then alerted the sheriff’s office to investigate the shooting. Sheriff’s investigators determined that an unnamed 19-year-old who thought the gun was unloaded "dry fired" the weapon and struck the 17-year-old in the chest. The victim was treated and then transferred to Miami Valley Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.
JANESVILLE, WI, 9/12/15: A Janesville man who had just bought a shotgun apparently wanted to share the news with the world early Saturday morning. He took a “selfie” photo of himself with his purchase. The gun went off at 1:34 AM, blasting into the next apartment in the 300 block of Memorial Drive, police said. No one was hurt. The man, 19, called police and at first said the gun discharged as he was cleaning it, said police Sgt. Todd Kleisner. He later admitted he was taking a selfie in front of his bathroom mirror, Kleisner said. The birdshot pellets penetrated the wall and entered a neighboring apartment's bathroom. “Had somebody been standing, brushing his teeth or whatever, he probably would've gotten hurt or killed,” Kleisner said. The man, who had not been drinking, was cited for discharging a firearm within city limits. The neighbor slept through the noise, police said.
MADISON, WI, 9/12/15: Madison police say a woman is expected to recover from what they're calling an accidental shooting Saturday night. Officers were called to a home in the 4000 block of Lori Circle where a man reported he'd shot the woman while cleaning his gun. Lt. Timothy Strassman says all the individuals involved have been questioned. No charges have been filed.
MEDFORD, WI, 9/12/15: Some customers subdued a man who fired a handgun in the men's bathroom at Bogey's Bar, Medford Police Chief Ken Coyer said Monday. The incident that led to the arrest of 29-year-old Robert Harrison of Medford took place about 8:45 PM Saturday, Coyer said. No one was injured. Three customers maintained control of Harrison until police arrived, Coyer said in a statement. No other details were released, including whether something prompted the shooting or the gun accidentally discharged. Police recommended Harrison be charged with endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, disorderly conduct, and bail jumping, the police chief said. No charges had been filed by early Monday afternoon, according to online Taylor County court records.
MARIN CITY, CA, 9/12/15: A man was arrested in Marin City after accidentally shooting himself in the genitals at his girlfriend's apartment, the sheriff's department said. Shaun Israel Joseph, a 34-year-old Richmond resident, was booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of negligently discharging a firearm, being a convicted felon in possession of a gun, unlawful possession of ammunition, and child endangerment. He was also booked on suspicion of violating the terms of his parole. The incident occurred Saturday night at an apartment on Cole Drive. Deputies arrived to find Joseph on the floor with a gunshot wound to the groin. His girlfriend and four small children ages six to nine were also in the residence, said sheriff's Lt. Jamie Scardina. Joseph told deputies he was hit by a stray bullet while outside the apartment, but deputies found bullet fragments next to him and a hole in the floor, Scardina said. Deputies concluded he had shot himself while putting a handgun in his waistband. Scardina said the gun was removed from the apartment before deputies arrived. Joseph was taken to Marin General Hospital for treatment and then booked into jail. He remained in custody Monday pending review by the Marin County District Attorney's Office.
EL PASO, TX, 9/12/15: A bullet struck a family’s home in east El Paso in a brand-new housing development. Neighbors said the constant gunfire from the desert has the community on edge. They want to find a way to protect their property before someone gets hurt. As the Sun City grows, homes replace desert. Housing developments are moving into areas used for a favorite Texas pastime—shooting. “The biggest concern is land development is growing faster than a lot of people understand,” said Rene Acosta of Carefree Homes. “You can’t help but wonder, what if there is a stray bullet.” Bullets that once rusted away in the dirt are now arriving on the doorsteps of homeowners like Andrew McRae. McRae lives off of Rich Beam and Montwood. He came home on a Saturday to find a bullet on his driveway and the impact mark on his garage. To get to his front door, the bullet had to travel between two other homes across the street. He worries about what could have happened had his children been in the bullet's path. “It could have hit anyone,” said McRae. McRae called El Paso police and an officer took the bullet into evidence. But it's far from an isolated incident. Acosta said the sound of gunshots echoing in the not-so-far distance happens daily, and occasionally a bullet pierces the neighborhood's perimeter. “We are dangerously close to what’s happening,” said Acosta. Even more land is being cleared for new housing developments. The development McRae lives in is so new, the address can’t even be found using Google Maps. With new neighbors moving in soon, McRae said he wants to see a sensible way to curb the problem to avoid tragic results. “This is America and we have the right to bear arms and I like shooting, too, but we still have to be careful. We don't want to risk an accident. Someone could lose a family member,” said McRae. It isn’t illegal for folks to go shooting in the county, but they break the law when their bullets cross into city limits. “We shouldn’t have to wait for something like this to happen,” said Acosta. McRae said he doesn’t want shooting to be banned in the area, he just wants there to be a safer way. He plans to reach out to local leaders to see what can be done to curb the problem.
ORIGINALLY POSTED TO DAVID WALDMAN ON FRI SEP 18, 2015 AT 07:55 PM PDT.