Man Killed in Gun Cleaning Accident In Prospect, Kentucky, 23-year-old Charl Hertzog was shot and killed by his roommate James Small, 20, who claimed he was drinking and smoking weed while cleaning a gun, when it accidentally discharged. Police say he left the scene after the shooting and got rid of the gun, then turned …
Category: Adult Death
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2023
Two Gun Accidents Today Leave One Man Dead, and Two Soldiers Injured Police are not releasing the name or age of a man who was accidentally shot in the chest and killed in Yankton, South Dakota. Cody Auch, 20, has been charged with first-degree manslaughter. Police determined that the shooting took place in the victim’s …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Alaska California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Florida No Charges Filed North Carolina Ongoing Investigation South Carolina Tennessee Texas
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2023
Eight Unintentional Shootings Leave Two Dead and Six Wounded In Houston, Texas, an 18-year-old was shot and killed by a relative who was trying to take a gun away from him. According to police, the relative was upset the 18-year-old had brought a gun into the apartment, and during the struggle for it, unintentionally shot …
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2023
Store Employee Shot While Loading Groceries into Customer’s Car; Two Others Shot and Injured In Linden, Texas, a store employee was accidentally shot and killed while helping a customer load their vehicle. According to the report, Larry Lawrence, an employee of Crump Food Stores, placed a bag in the rear of a customer’s car near …
Adult Death Adult Injury Child Death (18 and Under) Colorado New York No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania West Virginia
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
Three People Dead, Three Wounded in Unintentional Shootings A gun unintentionally discharged in a vehicle in Aurora, Colorado, killing one man and injuring another. Investigators think that the 47-year-old passenger was handling a gun inside the car, when it went off, fatally striking the 21-year-old driver and injuring himself. Charges are pending further investigation. In …
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2023
Woman Dies in Unintentional Shooting While in Bed In Meridian, Mississippi, an unidentified woman died from a gunshot wound to her femur today. According to the report, the gun off accidentally in the bed where the woman was sleeping. Minimal additional details were reported. Sources: Morgan Howard, “Meridian Police Investigating After Woman Killed When Gun …
Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Indiana Ongoing Investigation South Dakota Texas
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
One Dead, and Two Wounded in Unintentional Shootings Inside an apartment in Gary, Indiana, a 4-year-old boy was wounded when he shot himself with an unsecured gun. According to his father, the child found the loaded gun in a purse in a closet while his parents were in other rooms. No other information has been …
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2023
Woman is Dead and Boy is Injured in Two Unintentional Shootings in Florida Today’s incident is the fifth accidental shooting in Tallahassee, Florida since the beginning of September. An adult woman was with a group of people smoking cannabis in a vehicle, when one of them, Ja’Darius Brown, 17, unintentionally discharged a firearm, striking the …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Colorado Illinois Indiana Iowa New Jersey New York No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation
TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2023
Six Gun Accidents Today A 3-year-old Trenton, New Jersey boy is in stable condition after shooting himself in the head with a gun brought into the home by 30-year-old Chante Odom. Two other children and an adult male were at home during the incident. Odom has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Minnesota Mississippi Ongoing Investigation Tennessee
MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2023
A Nine-year-old and Two Women are Victims in Gun Accidents A 9-year-old Brooklyn Park, Minnesota boy is expected to survive after he was shot in the head by his younger brother. The victim’s 7-year-old brother found a loaded handgun in their home and was handling the weapon when it discharged, according to police. There is …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Kentucky Nevada North Carolina Ohio Ongoing Investigation
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2023
One Dead, Three Injured in Four Unintentional Shootings Kelsey Moore died from an accidental shooting in a vehicle in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Few details have been reported but the alleged shooter is in custody as the investigation continues. A two-year-old was napping in bed with his mother in Burlington, North Carolina. While she was sleeping, he …
MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 2023
Two People Killed in Gun Accidents In Sylacauga, Alabama, a clerk in a convenience store, 21-year-old Pankaj Pankaj, accidentally shot and killed himself with a firearm owned by the store’s owner. Store video reviewed during the investigation showed that Pankaj was examining a gun the owner kept behind the counter for self-protection, when it discharged, …
Adult Death Adult Injury Arizona Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Illinois No Charges Filed North Carolina Ongoing Investigation West Virginia
THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 2023
IRS Agent Unintentionally Shot and Killed by Fellow Agent; and in Other Gun Accidents Today, Two Children and One Adult are Injured IRS Special Agent Patrick Bauer, 47, was accidentally shot and killed by another agent during a training exercise in Phoenix, Arizona. The incident happened at a federal gun range that was being utilized …
Adult Death California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Michigan New York Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2023
Four Accidental Shootings: 14-year-old Boy and 83-year-old Woman Dead, 2 Others Injured In Fort Ann, New York, a 17-year-old didn’t know that the shotgun he had pointed in the direction of 14-year-old Rycky Stark Jr. was loaded. It unintentionally fired, hitting Rycky in the abdomen killing him. Three boys and one girl were playing with …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Connecticut Louisiana Maryland Ongoing Investigation Washington
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2023
Man Dies in Gun Cleaning Accident; Three People Injured in Unintentional Shootings Two men were cleaning a gun in New Orleans, Louisiana, when it unintentionally discharged, fatally striking one of them, a 22-year-old, in the chest. He died from his injuries later at the hospital. No other information is available at this time. A boy …
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 2023
Two Drivers are Accidentally Shot, One Fatally The female driver of a vehicle in Cordele, Georgia, was accidentally shot and killed by her nephew who was sitting in the backseat. The 15-year-old nephew was handling a firearm when it unintentionally discharged, fatally striking his aunt. He now faces multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter, possession of …
Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Illinois Indiana Juvenile Arrested No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania Tennessee Virginia
MONDAY, JULY 24, 2023
Five Unintentional Shootings: Three Involving Teens, Two Involving Security Personnel; One Dead, Four Injured Yoel Lopez, 21, was unintentionally shot and killed by 18-year-old Josue Cruz in Nashville, Tennessee. Lopez was in a parked car with his cousin and Cruz, when an AR-style pistol that Cruz was playing with, went off, striking Lopez. Cruz fled …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida Georgia Ongoing Investigation Texas
SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2023
Five Unintentional Shootings, Including Two in Vehicles In Jupiter, Florida, a teenage passenger in a vehicle was handling a gun when it unintentionally discharged, fatally striking the driver. The teenager is facing a charge of negligent manslaughter. Police recovered the firearm as they continue to investigate. Another reported shooting in a vehicle, this time in …
Adult Death Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Connecticut Juvenile Arrested Ohio Ongoing Investigation Texas
SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2023
One Man Dead and Two Boys Injured After Accidentally Shooting Themselves A 33-year-old man in Houston, Texas, was found by police in the driver’s seat of a car with a fatal gunshot wound. According to a witness, who was also in the car, the man was putting the gun away in the console or glove …
Adult Death Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Illinois Juvenile Arrested No Charges Filed Pennsylvania
SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2023
Girl Mistakes Real Gun for BB Gun, and Husband Shoots Wife in Gun Cleaning Accident Daejion Grant, 16, was unintentionally shot and killed by a 14-year-old girl in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The girl thought she was holding a BB gun, but it was instead a real handgun. She has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and is …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Hawaii Idaho Ohio Ongoing Investigation
WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023
Two Dead and One Wounded in Shooting Accidents Maden Thapa, a 30-year-old Columbus, Ohio man, was unintentionally killed in his truck by another man who was handling a gun. According to the report, 25-year-old Lok Nath Acharya, had been alerted to the presence of the gun in a bathroom at a local newsstand. He removed …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Delaware Juvenile Arrested New York Ongoing Investigation Oregon Texas
TUESDAY, JULY 11, 2023
Two Dead and Four Wounded in Unintentional Shootings Jordan Rosales, a 12-year-old from Lubbock, Texas, was accidentally shot and killed in his house in front of his three siblings. Two boys had came over to the victim’s house; one of them, a 13-year-old, brought a loaded gun with him and while handling it, shot and …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Florida Indiana New York Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania
TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2023
Today’s Unintentional Shootings In the Bronx, New York, after shooting his 32-year-old roommate in the head, killing him, the shooter fled down the apartment building stairwell and unintentionally shot and killed himself. Another man, 56, was grazed in the cheek during the incident. According to a detective on the case, the 28-year-old gunman tripped and …
SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2023
23-year-old Woman Dies When Gun Accidentally Fires in Car In Orlando, Florida, 23-year-old Lissette Lebron-DiCristina was wounded when a gun accidentally discharged in the vehicle where she was a passenger. She was taken to the hospital and later died from her injuries. Everyone involved in the incident is cooperating with the investigation. Sources: Brandon Hogan, …
MONDAY, JUNE 19, 2023
Two Dead, Two Injured, in Accidental Shootings A 7-year-old child shot a 5-year-old child inside a home in McKee, Kentucky today. The child died at the scene. Police said in a statement that the shooting was “accidental,” but no further information has been reported. In Gloversville, New York, Dante Edwards-Morrison, age 30, was killed accidentally …
Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Illinois Mississippi Ongoing Investigation Virginia
SUNDAY, JUNE 18, 2023
One Dead, Two Injured, in Accidental Shootings A 3-year-old Columbus, Mississippi boy accidentally shot himself in the leg today. According to the report, a 14-year-old, who was visiting relatives, found the loaded gun in a bedroom and left it around where the younger child could find it. There is an ongoing investigation. A Salem, Illinois …
FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2023
Ohio Mom and Unborn Child Both Die When Two-Year-Old Discharges a Gun Laura Ilg of Norwalk, Ohio, age 31, was shot in the back, reportedly by her two-year-old son, who had found a loaded 9mm pistol on a nightstand in his parents’ bedroom. Neither Ms. Ilg, nor the unborn child, survived. Norwalk police responded to …
Adult Death Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Michigan Mississippi No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation
SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2023
Police Officer’s 2-year-old Child and Pregnant Woman Killed in Unintentional Shootings In Howell, Michigan, the 2-year-old child of veteran police officer David Lacey, shot and killed themself with a loaded, unsecured gun that they found in their home. So far, no charges have been filed and police call the incident a personal family matter. However, …
SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2023
Father of Five Unintentionally Shot and Killed in Texas Park In Beaumont, Texas, Tyrone Horace, age 50, was killed and another man was critically injured when gunfire broke out in a local park. According to police, two groups of youths were arguing and began firing at each other. However, it appears that only the two …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Georgia Indiana Michigan Ongoing Investigation Tennessee Texas
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2023
One Dead, 7 Wounded in Gun Accidents Parsa Danesh, 19, was accidentally shot and killed in Austin, Texas. Police, after consulting with the District Attorney’s Office, say no charges will be filed at this time, but the case remains under investigation. An 11-year-old girl in Houston, Texas is in stable condition after being hit by …
TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023
Man Unintentionally Killed Outside Son’s Store in New York City and 13-year-old Wounded in Accidental Shooting Reda Girgis, 66, was fatally shot in the head during a drive-by shooting in Manhattan, New York. He was not the intended victim and was taking a phone call outside his son’s store when he was gunned down. Police …
Adult Death Alabama Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Pennsylvania West Virginia
SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2023
Mishandling Guns and an Unsecured Storage Leave One Dead and Three Wounded In St. Albans, West Virginia, Steven Loftis, 53, accidentally shot himself in the abdomen and died. The discharge allegedly occurred because the firearm was not handled safely and was stored in Loftis’s pants pocket instead of a holster. The case will be reviewed …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Alabama California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Children and Guns Indiana Juvenile Arrested Massachusetts No Charges Filed Ohio Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania Tennessee Wisconsin
FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2023
Five Dead and Seven Injured in Unintended Shootings In Indianapolis, Indiana, 5-year-old Hakiem Scott apparently shot himself with an unsecured 9mm gun he found in his home. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but died shortly after. His father, 25-year-old Jahbar Scott, was arrested on an allegation of neglect of a dependent …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Missouri New Jersey No Charges Filed North Carolina Ongoing Investigation Tennessee Texas Virginia
THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2023
One Person Dead, Seven Wounded, in Unintentional Shootings Today In Plano, Texas, a three-year-old was hospitalized with an accidental gunshot wound. The circumstances of the accident were not reported. Deonte’ Thomas of Emporia, Virginia was arrested for reckless handling of a firearm after he unintentionally shot a 13-year-old boy in the head. The boy was …
SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 2023
Man Accidentally Kills Self in Car Ponca City, Oklahoma police report that 23-year-old Cesar Lopez was handling a loaded firearm in a car when the firearm went off unintentionally and struck Lopez in the head. The driver stopped the car in a parking lot where Lopez died. “Tragedies such as this can commonly be avoided …
Adult Death Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Illinois No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Virginia Wisconsin
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023
Three People Killed in Gun Accidents Kentrell Pouncey of Calumet City, Illinois, age five, was shot and killed after one of his siblings found a loaded gun somewhere outside and brought it home. Pouncey was at home with his three siblings, all under 15, and his mother at the time of the shooting. Which of …
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2023
Police Responding to Wrong Home Unintentionally Shoot Armed Homeowner When Farmington, New Mexico police responded to a domestic violence call by going to the door at the wrong home, they were greeted by an armed homeowner. The police responded by shooting and killing the homeowner, 52-year-old Robert Dotson. Police assert that they had announced themselves …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Louisiana Ongoing Investigation Virginia
MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2023
Two People Killed in Gun Accidents, Including a Three-year-old Jaquan Askew, 20, a Portsmouth, Virginia man, was arrested after his 3-year-old child gained access to a loaded firearm at home. The boy shot and killed himself. Askew said that while he was using the bathroom, he heard a gunshot coming from his son’s bedroom. Court …
FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023
Twenty-Year-Old Cousins Found Dead in Asserted Accidental Shooting In an oddly reported incident, two cousins in Valdosta, Georgia, were found dead inside a local apartment. The report states that the shooting appears to have been accidental. “One of the young men accidentally fatally shot the other then shot himself,” the report states. Both men were …
SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2023
Man Accidentally Kills Wife in Next Room While Reloading Joseph Cuva, Sr., 74, of Greenfield, New York accidentally fired his gun while reloading it after he had cleaned it. The round passed through a wall and killed his wife, Charlene Cuva, also 74. Cuva presumably kept the gun for safety in his home. No charges …
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2023
Two Adults Unintentionally Shot and Killed; Few Details Reported Two people were unintentionally shot and killed today, but few details were reported In Memphis, Tennessee, Alicia Hamer was arrested and charged after her boyfriend was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head. Hamer told police that she had fired the gun accidentally, but …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested No Charges Filed
SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2023
Three Gun Accidents in Cars Leave One Dead and Two Wounded In Desloge, Missouri, Kyle Walters, 25, was arrested after his 9mm pistol accidentally discharged in the back seat of a vehicle while waiting for food ordered at the local Jack in the Box. The round passed through the seat and struck and killed the driver …
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023
Virginia Gun Cleaning Accident Leaves a Woman Dead In Virginia Beach, Virginia, 19-year-old Jaiden Litton was charged with manslaughter after 21-year-old Heavonlei Grant was shot in the chest and killed. Court documents said Litton told investigators that he was attempting to unload Grant’s gun that day, and while unloading, he pointed the gun at her. …
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023
Two Young People Accidentally Shot During Intentional Gun Incidents Two people were killed today in incidents that fall in the complicated legal gray area between intentional and unintentional. A Mercedes, Texas kidnapping incident turned fatal when one of the kidnappers struck the head of the intended victim with the butt of a rifle. The gun …
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023
Two People Killed When Others Try to Clear their Guns A 29-year-old Cleveland, Ohio woman killed her husband today while trying to “clear” a weapon, presumably to remove a round in the chamber. The victim, Benjamin Irizarry, age 33, was pronounced dead at the scene. There is an ongoing investigation. And in Nashville, Tennessee, Linda …
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2023
21-Year-Old Killed in Gun Accident In an incident reported as a “sudden death”, an Alexandria, Virginia 21-year-old was shot in the head and killed. Although the facts are still murky, it appears that an accident occurred when a group of young men were playing with a gun. The incident was called in by the victim’s …
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2023
Man Appears to Have Shot Himself in Car While Driving In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a man died after a shooting and a car crash on a local highway. Police did not state, but rather implied, that the man had accidentally shot himself and then crashed his vehicle. There is an ongoing investigation. Source: Blakely McHugh, “Police …
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2023
Man Shoots and Kills Acquaintance with a Gun He Believed Was Not Loaded Frankie Morello, 22, of Chalmette, Louisiana, shot and killed an acquaintance while handling a gun that he believed was not loaded. He was arrested and charged with negligent homicide. This is yet another deadly gun accident that might have been prevented if …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Georgia Louisiana Massachusetts Missouri No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation South Carolina
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2023
Six Reported Unintended Shootings Today, Including the Death of an Innocent Bystander Hundreds of people fled a mall in Holyoke, Massachusetts after a fatal shooting inside a nail salon. Kenneth Santana-Rodriguez, who claimed to be firing in self-defense after being confronted by a former boyfriend of his girlfriend, fired two rounds, one of which struck …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Illinois Louisiana Mississippi New Jersey North Carolina Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023
This page is intentionally left blank to remember the dead and injured in the mass shooting in Monterey Bay, California on January 21 and in nine other mass shootings since then. Monterey Bay, California Shreveport, Louisiana Baton Rouge, Louisiana Tunica Resorts, Mississippi Half Moon Bay, California Chicago, Illinois Oakland, California Red Springs, North Carolina Lancaster, …
SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2023
Woman Killed by a Man Demonstrating How to Use a Gun Safely A Fort Worth, Texas woman was shot and killed today by a man who was attempting to demonstrate to her how to use a gun safely. The woman died at the scene. Based on witness statements, police found that the victim and and …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation
SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2023
Dog Shoots Hunter by Stepping on Gun In Sumner County, Kansas, a hunter died from his injuries in a gun accident that was reportedly caused by a dog stepping on a gun. The sheriff’s office determined that “the man was sitting in the front passenger seat of the pickup when a dog stepped on the …
Adult Death Arizona Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation South Carolina
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023
Man Accidentally Shot and Killed While Moving a Shotgun To Make Room Inside His Vehicle In Bullhead City, Arizona, a 56-year old man who was moving his shotgun in order to make room for a passenger in his vehicle, accidentally fired the gun into his abdomen and killed himself. Another person was also shot and …
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2023 –Gun Cleaning Accident
The Harris County, Texas sheriff announced that a Humble, Texas man was cleaning his shotgun when it discharged inside his apartment. Another man was struck and killed. It is unclear whether charges will be filed. In Andrews, South Carolina, a man fired a pistol when he heard someone entering his home through a window. A …
FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2023 – Women Accidentally Shot in a Car
41-year-old Lizmanelle Lumpkin of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was shot and killed inside a vehicle by another occupant while they were handling a firearm. Oklahoma City police called the shooting “completely accidental” and have not made an arrest. Source: “OKCPD: Woman Killed After Getting Shot in a Car by Someone Handling a Firearm,” okcfox.com (January 17, …
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2023
Alden Guillory, age 21, of Austin, Texas, was showing his friends his new gun when he unintentionally fired it and struck Eric House, age 20, in the neck. House died after being taken to the hospital. According to a witness, Guillory was a “competent” gun user, who was showing his friends how to properly unload …
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2023
A two-year-old and a 15-year-old were innocent bystanders to other people’s gun violence in Jackson, Mississippi today. The two children were in a car and were shot by bullets that passed through the trunk. The 15-year-old is expected to survive, but 2-year-old Kingston McClain will be paralyzed for the rest of his life after being …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Arizona California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Georgia Illinois Michigan No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Texas
SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2023
January 1, 2023 does not bode well for gun safety in the New Year because there were too many gun accidents to meaningfully consider, including many that appear to have resulted from celebratory gunfire. Among the reported incidents: In Van Buren County, Michigan, 62-year-old Christopher Toppenberg was charged with murder Wednesday in connection with the …
Adult Death California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida Juvenile Arrested Maryland Michigan Missouri Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2022
At least six people were killed or injured in separate gun accidents today, three of them children, the others young adults. In Pittsburg, California, a 15-year-old was shot and killed by another 15-year-old, apparently unintentionally. The shooter was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. However, minimal details have been released. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, an …
Adult Death Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Louisiana New York No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation South Carolina
MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2022
40-year-old Mathew Roach of Elgin, South Carolina was killed in a hunting accident today. The circumstances of the accident have not been released. His obituary says, “Matt loved his family with all his heart. He enjoyed spending time at the ocean, saltwater fishing, golf, Gamecock football, coaching baseball, grilling, ‘playing’ guitar, dancing in the living …
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2022
A Kanawha County, West Virginia man attempting to break up a family fight with a gun accidentally shot and killed his brother on Christmas day. According to authorities, the man fired his gun several times inside a residence and one of the rounds accidentally struck Shane Bush, the man’s brother, aged 26. The investigation is …
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022
Quezariah Jackson, age three, of Kansas City, Missouri, was shot and killed on Christmas Eve. Police have released few details of the incident other than to state that the killing was unintentional and that they are not looking for any suspects. Cesar Montelongo, 53, a Grand Prairie, Texas maintenance worker was found lying on a …
Adult Death Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Georgia Illinois Juvenile Arrested Ongoing Investigation
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2022
In Chicago, Illinois, a 50-year-old man sitting in his car in a local park was struck by a stray bullet and killed. He was an innocent bystander to a nearby disturbance according to the report. No one is in custody in connection with the shooting. In LaGrange, Georgia, a 15-year-old girl was struck in the …
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022
In Terre Haute, Indiana, a 16-year-old was purportedly unloading a semi-automatic handgun for cleaning and “unintentionally discharged one round” that struck 21-year-old Bryar Laws. Laws was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries. There is an ongoing investigation. Source: Sky Christian, “Unintentional Shooting Leads to Death in Greene Co.” mywabashvalley.com (December 19, …
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022
Ahmad Gardner of North Charleston, South Carolina, accidentally shot and killed himself while driving. He was making a U-Turn at the time of the incident. His car traveled through a parking lot and struck an unoccupied vehicle, but no one else was hurt. Source: Jasmine Pack, “Coroner Identifies Man That Accidently Shot Himself and Crashed …
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2022
Mike Atkinson of Syracuse, New York, 19, accidentally shot and killed himself while playing with a gun in front of a group of friends. “He just was not thinking and did what he did,” his brother said. “He was young and he was impressionable.” “He was able to bring a smile across everyone’s face in …
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2022
In a Brevard County, Florida incident that is being reported as an accidental shooting, one sheriff’s deputy shot and killed another while the two were playing the video game Call of Duty. According to the report, Deputy Andrew Lawson, 22, pulled the trigger twice on a Glock pistol while aiming it at his roommate, Austin …
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2022
William Harston, a Hendersonville, Kentucky man is dead after he accidentally shot himself in the chest outside a local pawn shop. According to the report, he was loading a gun in his truck when it went off. Also today, a Chicago, Illinois man shot a three-year-old boy in the shin while attempting to holster a …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Kansas No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Tennessee Texas
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2022
In Kansas City, Kansas, police are investigating an incident in which a four-year-old boy shot himself after finding a loaded gun. He later died at the hospital. No other details are available. In Memphis, Tennessee, a three-year-old boy is in critical condition after finding and pulling the trigger on a loaded gun. Police say the …
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2022
A 44-year-old woman was fatally shot by a 10-year-old playing with a gun in Milwaukee, Wisconsin today. The specific circumstances of the accident were not reported. Neighbors said a boy and his mother were the only people who lived in the home where the accident occurred. “She’s a very sweet lady,” said the neighbor. “Her …
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2022
Jaycee Trivino, an Ogden Utah arts teacher, was killed in an accidental shooting today. Police confirmed that the shooting was unintentional but have not released other details. “We loved Jaycee,” said the principal of the Junior High School where she taught. “She was just a lot of fun,” he said. “One that related well to …
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2022
33-year old Thomas Jackson of Phoenix, Arizona was unintentionally shot and killed by his older brother, Dominique today. Dominque mishandled a gun and it went off, striking Thomas, who died at the scene. Dominique was arrested and charged with manslaughter The two brothers were allegedly drinking and using drugs at the time of the incident. …
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022
Local authorities in Haralson County, Georgia announced that detention officer Daniel Salazar was killed by an accidental shooting in his home. The details of the accident were not released. “Daniel was a good officer,” the Sheriff said. “He did his job well. He would jump in and help when needed and always had a smile. …
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2022
A vigil will be held outside D.P. Dough in Huntington, West Virginia, after Joe Bryan, a restaurant employee, was struck by stray gunfire there and killed. The bullets were fired after a fight broke out outside a nearby bar. Bryan’s aunt told a reporter that his life and legacy will live on as because he …
Adult Death Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) New Mexico North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania Texas
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2022
At least five people died in unintended shootings in the United States today. In Charlotte, North Carolina, Demario Warren, a four-year-old, apparently found gun in his home and accidentally shot and killed himself. Dayshawn St’Paul Warren, the boy’s father, was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. “This isn’t a situation where we are asking the …
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022
In Winnemucca, Nevada, a 48-year-old man died Tuesday morning after being accidentally shot by his friend on a hunting trip. A preliminary investigation by Sheriff’s Deputies and game wardens determined that the man’s friend “was attempting to place his weapon into a plastic gun case attached to a[n] ATV when the rifle accidentally fired, hitting …
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2022
Police confirmed today that the shooting death of 23-year-old Damian Gonzalez of Cape Coral, Florida, in a car was not intentional. According to the report, witness confirmed that the 18-year-old shooter did not know the gun was loaded when he pressed it to Gonzalez’s chest and pulled the trigger. The shooter, Giovanni Castro, was arrested …
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022
Lorenzo Morgan, a Colton, California police officer, accidentally shot and killed himself in a vehicle while off duty, the sheriff’s department announced. The specific circumstances of the incident have not been reported. “No foul play is suspected in the shooting and it is believed this was a tragic accident,” the Sheriff’s Department statement said. Morgan …
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022
In Miami, Florida, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was accidentally shot and killed at shooting range during a training exercise. The office was identified as 40-year-old Jorge Arias. He was acting as instructor at the time of the accident. However, other details have not been released. “He had that passion for firearms, so …
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2022
In Clearwater County, Idaho, a man shot and killed a woman with his AR-15 rifle. Raoel Brown, 36, claimed he was attempting to shoot an elk on his property when his girlfriend, Lanae Tackely, 38, stepped in front of the gun while he was firing. According to court records, Brown was distraught about the incident. …
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2022
In Donaldsville, Louisiana, Perry Smith, age 33, shot and killed Trevon Henderson, age 21, who he mistakenly believed was an intruder in his home. A sheriff’s spokesman, said the shooting was a “really unfortunate case of mistaken identity.” Smith was arrested and charged with negligent homicide, among other crimes. Source: David J. Mitchell, “Man Accused …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Illinois Ongoing Investigation Texas
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2022
A two-year old Joliet, Illinois child found a loaded gun in a bedroom at his home and shot himself in the head. He is in critical condition at the hospital. The boy’s mother was home at the time of the incident and is cooperating with police. In Grape Creek, Texas, police arrested Mathew South, 32, …
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2022
In South Lake Tahoe, California, 37-year old Julio Rojas Cruz died of a bullet wound to the head. According to police, Rojas’s death resulted from negligent firing of a 9 mm handgun. No further information is available. In Wisconsin, two men accidentally shot themselves, one in Fond du Lac, the other in Milwaukee. Both are …
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022
In Spartanburg, South Carolina, Cora Lyn Bush, 33, was shot and killed by her three-year old son who had found a loaded gun in their home. Police are investigating how the child gained access to the gun. Source: Bill Bates, Bethany Fowler, “3-year-old Accidentally Shoots, Kills Mother in Spartanburg Co.” Queen City News (September 23, …
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
Three people accidentally shot and killed others in gun accidents today. Each accident was caused by the shooter’s own negligence but was likely facilitated by faulty gun design. Two of the incidents occurred in vehicles. In Raleigh North Carolina, Barri Rogers, 21, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of his friend, Ahmad …
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania police are investigating the accidental shooting death of Julius Snead on the stairs outside a vacant home. Police are not looking for any suspects, but have not released information about the circumstances of the accident. Sources: Becky Metrick, “Man Found Shot to Death Outside Vacant Harrisburg Home,” PennLive (September 15, 2022). Jenna Wise, …
Adult Arrested Adult Death Alaska Child Death (18 and Under) Hawaii New York No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2022
In Anchor Point, Alaska, Kenneth Defrancesco, 80, appeared to have been killed while getting out of his vehicle. “[A] firearm he was carrying came out of the holster and fired a round, fatally wounding him,” Alaska State Troopers reported in a press release on Sunday. A friend found Defrancesco in his driveway after he had …
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2022
No charges were filed today after a West Palm Beach man claiming to have “dry-fired” a gun believing it was unloaded, shot and killed his good friend. The 25-year old victim managed to get outside before dying on the stairs. Witnesses told police that a group of six friends were gathered in an apartment when …
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022
Terry Moody, Jr. of Charleston, West Virginia died today when a gun fired while in his pants pocket. Police called the shooting accidental. Additional circumstances of the accident have not been reported and it is unclear if the gun was defective. Source: Amanda Barren, “Victim in Sissonville Fatal Shooting Identified,” wowktv.com (August 28, 2022).
SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2022
22-year old Christopher Jordan of Fresno, California was arrested after he accidentally shot and killed his girlfriend, Deisha Guzman, age 20, at a local Hampton Inn hotel. Jordan initially claimed that he placed his gun on the bed and that Guzman had shot herself. After questioning, Jordan admitted that he accidentally fired the gun, striking …