Twice today, a gun accidentally discharged in public, injuring four people. In both cases, a loaded gun was discharged inside a place of business while being carried by its owner inside his pants pocket.

In Camden, New York, at the Grape and Grog restaurant, a police deputy accidentally discharged one round from his gun while seated at a table. The round exited through the bottom of his pants pocket and ricocheted off the floor.  A 10-year-old  girl and a 38-year old woman were treated for minor injuries.  The report is unclear about what led to the accident.

In Oregon, Ohio, a gun was accidentally discharged inside a home improvement store.  The gun was inside a customer’s pocket and not in a holster at the time it went off.  The customer whose gun went off and another person were struck by bullet fragments and treated at the scene.  Again, it is unclear what caused the gun to fire.

Sources:

“State Police is Investigating an Accidental Discharge Incident in Camden,” New York State Police Press Release (September 13, 2020). 

“Two People Injured after Gun Goes off in Menards,”  24 News (September 13, 2020).