WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Elijah Farral, a 20-year old Columbus, Georgia man and two friends were playing with a loaded handgun when he accidentally pulled the trigger according to police testimony. He accidentally shot and killed Sara Holtrop, age 18, who was sleeping nearby on a couch. Farral has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

“Sara was an extremely sweet girl,” said Holtrop’s friend Chloe Smith. “She was loved by a lot of people. She was very outgoing. She was just a super wholesome and beautiful human being that I’m very devastated to know we lost. I feel a load of emotions. I’m definitely infuriated just to know things like this are happening with no sense involved at all.”

“I’m not predicting, but if it goes at the rate it’s been going, we’ll hit the 50 homicide mark or more,” the county coroner said. “This family was getting ready for her graduation from school. You know it’s just a bad, sad thing.”

Sources:

Tim Chitwood, “18-year-old Hamilton Woman Killed in Overnight Shooting in Columbus, Authorities Say,” Ledger-Enquirer (February 11, 2020).

James Giles, “18-year-old Woman Shot and Killed in Accidental Shooting on Carmel Dr. in Columbus” WTVM (February 11, 2020).

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From the Archives

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Hunter Injured in Winchester Model 94 Accident

In Big Flats, New York, a 41-year-old hunter was accidentally shot in the arm and had to be airlifted to the hospital for treatment. Police determined that the rifle, a scoped Winchester Model 94, lever action 30-30, belonged to a 29-year-old man who had placed it on the driver-side fender next to the open front door of the victim’s truck. Police believe the rifle fell over onto the scope, causing it to fire into the victim’s arm. It was noted that “the Winchester Model 94 doesn’t have a traditional safety feature.” Potential charges are pending as the investigation continues.

This is the safety warning that the Olin Corporation issued in 2014 in order to attempt to avoid liability for this fairly common type of accident with its rifles:

10/2/2014

WINCHESTER® Model 94 Family of Lever-Action

Rifles, Carbines, and Muskets with Half-Cock Safety

Winchester Model 94 (including commemoratives); Winchester Model 1894;Winchester Model 9422 and Model 9422M; Winchester Model 55 Sears® Model 54 and Ted Williams® Model 100; Winchester Model 64 and 64A; Winchester Centennial '66; Winchester Canadian Centennial '67

Olin Corporation, through its Winchester Division, is warning users of the above firearms that when there is a live cartridge in the chamber, dropping, jarring or bumping the firearm may cause an accidental discharge, which may result in property damage, serious personal injury or death to the user or others:

With the hammer in the full-down position, a slight impact to, or bumping the hammer can cause a discharge.With the hammer in the half-cock safety position, a hard impact to the hammer, such as from dropping the firearm, can break the safety mechanism and cause a discharge. With the hammer in any position, a hard impact, such as from dropping or jarring the firearm, can cause a discharge, even if the hammer is not impacted.

To reduce the risk of accidental discharge, follow safe firearm handling practices, including:

Always maintain control of the firearm and keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times.

Never place the hammer in the full-down position when there is a live cartridge in the chamber.Never rely on the half-cock safety to prevent accidental discharge due to dropping or jarring the firearm, or hard impacts to the hammer.

When there is a live cartridge in the chamber, avoid activities that increase the risk of dropping or jarring the rifle, such as running, climbing, crossing a fence, and taking the firearm up and down from a tree stand.

This is not an ammunition or firearm recall.

Source:

Brandon Kyc, “Hunter Airlifted After Weekend Shooting Accident in Chemung County,” mytwintiers.com (November 20, 2023).

Shattered – The Gun Accident Journal

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