In Woodbridge, Virginia, Kaitlyn Marie Roulten Ellis, a 29-year old mother of two, was arrested after she negligently discharged a gun while caring for her two daughters, a 1-month old and a four-year old. Ms. Roulten Ellis was handling a gun when it discharged and struck her in the arm. She was arrested after being …
Category: Adult Injury
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020
On Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, a homeless fired a gun into the air at about 10:00 PM on Christmas Eve and accidentally injured another homeless man. The victim is in stable condition at a local hospital. Police are investigating. Source: “Homeless Man Firing Gun Into Air Wounds Man,” LA.com (December 25, 2020).
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2020
In Greenville, South Carolina, there is an ongoing investigation of a gun accident at City Arsenal, a gun store and shooting range, that injured two people. An individual inside the store accidentally fired a shot that struck his hand and then struck a second person, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Both men are hospitalized in …
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2020
Three guns were accidentally fired today. Three injuries resulted. In Thomasville, Georgia, a man was moving his friend’s AR-15 rifle at the request of his friend’s grandmother, without knowing that the gun was loaded, when it inadvertently fired. A child was injured. There is no report on the victim’s condition. In Knightdale, North Carolina, a …
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2020
In New York City, New York a 41-year old innocent bystander was shot in the back by a round that was fired near West 64th Street. He is expected to survive. The shooting took place just a few blocks away from Lincoln Center, a cultural community that has more than five million visitors annually. The …
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020
Two people were hurt today in another accident that could have been prevented by a magazine safety disconnect. Two cousins, ages 16 and 21, in Holly Hill, South Carolina were parked in a car when the older boy removed a pistol from his backpack and removed the magazine. Shortly afterward, the mother of the 16-year-old …
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2020
At the St. Lucie Shooting Center in Port St. Lucie, Florida, a bullet pierced a barrier and struck a shooting range employee. An off-duty police officer was present at the time. She and another officer applied a pair of tourniquets. The injured man was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released. A …
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020
A hunting accident in Hartford, Arkansas killed 14-year old Newt Hodge and wounded his 21-year old brother. While the boys were loading a deer they had killed into a truck, a rifle leaning on the truck fell and discharged. The bullet passed through Newt and struck his brother Kasey in the shoulder. Arkansas Fish and …
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2020
In Houston, Texas, a man who was watching T.V. in his living room was accidentally shot in the face by a neighbor who was cleaning his gun. The bullet went through a wall and a window before it struck. The victim was flown to the hospital where he remains in critical condition. “There’s two pistols …
Adult Injury Arizona Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Idaho Massachusetts No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2020
Two men and a 10-year old boy were hospitalized with wounds suffered in accidental shootings today. Very little information is available about what happened in any of the gun accidents. In Bourne, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, a man was accidentally shot while cleaning his gun. He was hospitalized in Rhode Island with non-life threatening injuries. …
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020
When a Kansas City, Kansas man lost control of his motorbike and crashed, a gun in his waistband fired and struck him in the hip. He was then also struck by another vehicle whose driver fled the scene of the accident. Police arriving at the scene discovered a bag of methamphetamine in a compartment of …
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020
In Rockingham County, North Carolina, a man was arrested today for lying to investigators about a gun accident that happened on June 12, 2020. The man, Willie Thomas Hairston III, claimed that he was shot in a drive-by, when, in actuality, he had accidentally shot himself in the leg in a grocery store parking lot. …
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020
A man and a boy were hospitalized today in Barboursville, West Virginia after a .50 caliber rifle malfunctioned and exploded. The man was shot in the hand and the boy was shot in the arm. The sheriff told a reporter that the two were “out shooting” when the accident occurred. Source: Chad Hedrick, WSAZ 3 …
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020
At the Solid Rock Ministry Church in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, a ten-year old boy with a gun shot into the church and accidentally struck his grandmother twice. The boy found the gun in a living area inside the church building. Police said people were inside the church when the boy started firing rounds into the building …
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020
Two young children were innocent victims of gun violence on Halloween. Both were bystanders when arguments broke out and shots were fired. In New York City, an 8-year old, her father and a third bystander were wounded by gunfire outside a supermarket. All three victims are in stable condition. According to a witness, three gunshots …
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2020
In the tiny town of Somersworth, New Hampshire, two men, Raymond Picard and Joshua Conley, were charged with felonies for accidental discharge of their firearms in unrelated incidents. Somersworth has a total population of just 11,754. In the first incident, a 53-year old man was shot in the chest and taken to the hospital. He …
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2020
For the second time this week, a woman was mistaken for an intruder in the middle of the night and shot by her partner. In an incident that bears a startling similarity to one reported in Utah on Tuesday of this week, a man was woken by noise in his home and grabbed a loaded …
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2020
In Batavia, New York, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were qualifying at the local shooting range when one person was accidentally shot in the leg. The local Sheriff’s department is investigating. Source: Scott Desmit, “Person Shot in Leg at Emergency Training Center,” The Daily News (October 22, 2020).
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020
A Provo, Utah woman is in critical condition after being accidentally shot by her husband. He had woken in the night and mistaken her for a burglar. According to a police detective, ““[h]e had heard some noise in the house, gotten up from bed still tired but he suspected it was a burglar. He grabbed …
GUNS AND ALCOHOL
As a society, we spend substantial resources trying to prevent accidents caused by drunken drivers. Efforts include ubiquitous public service announcements, enhanced criminal and civil penalties, and legal remedies creating potential liability for those selling or otherwise providing alcohol to inebriated people. Many of these efforts are designed to deter drunken driving by the in …
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020
In a Providence, Rhode Island apartment, a woman was struck in the leg by a stray bullet while nursing her baby. The round was fired outside the apartment by an unknown shooter for an unknown reason. It passed through the apartment door and an inside wall before hitting the woman, Asende Mosi. Her baby was …
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020
A 28-year old in Wichita, Kansas was injured when a gun tucked into his waistband accidentally fired. He was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital with a serious injury. Source: Michael Stavola, “Accidental and Self-inflicted Shooting at Towne East Square, Official Says,” Kansas.com (October 17, 2020).
MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020
In Albert Lea, Minnesota, a man was injured Monday morning in an accidental shooting. He was reportedly shot in the leg in what police describe as a “negligent firing of the gun.” Police logs show that at the time of the accident, the injured man and another person were preparing to go to the gun …
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2020
A Cambria, Wisconsin woman was struck by shrapnel in her home and was flown by medical helicopter to a nearby hospital for treatment. According to authorities, the accident occurred as others in her home were preparing to go coyote hunting. Source: Bridget Cooke, “MedFlight Takes Woman from Cambria Residence after Accidental Shooting, Police Say,” Madison.com …
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2020
There were two reported gun accidents in Tennessee today. In Crossville, a man cleaning his gun at a firepit accidentally shot himself in the thigh. He was flown by “Lifestar” helicopter to a nearby hospital. In Memphis, two young brothers found a gun and one of them was shot in the hand. The boy went …
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2020
In Lucas County, Ohio, the Sheriff’s Office reports that there was an accidental shooting today in Springfield Township that did not result in life-threatening injuries. The victim was taken to the hospital. The police say “there is no danger to the public at this time.” Source: “1 Person Shot in Springfield Twp.; Police Say it …
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
A two-year old in Bakersfield, California accidentally shot a relative with a loaded gun he found inside his apartment. The unidentified woman is in critical condition at the hospital. “At this point, we are going through all the various interviews and still doing some follow-up investigations as far as where the gun was located, how …
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020
Two people were accidentally shot today at a motel in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Neither injury was considered serious. According to police “it was determined after further investigation that the shooting was accidental. Police said others at the scene who were involved in the argument have not filed any criminal charges.” Source: “HPD: Shooting Incident that Injured …
Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida Michigan Ongoing Investigation Oregon
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
Three individuals shot themselves in the lower body today in various handgun accidents. A toddler is severely injured, a man is dead, and another appears to have lost his ability to reproduce. A three-year old in Jupiter Inlet, Florida gained access to his uncle’s handgun and shot himself in the thigh and hand. He is …
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
Zachary Rock, an 11-year old boy died in a gun accident in Clay Township, Michigan at a “youth deer hunting event.” The boy was shot by his stepfather and died at the hospital. While police were at the scene, the boy’s mother accidentally discharged a gun while attempting to unload it and was struck in …
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2020
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 …
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020
In Chicago, Illinois, a mail carrier was the innocent victim of a drive-by shooting. She was accidentally shot four times while delivering the mail and is in critical condition. She was struck in the legs, stomach and back of her head by shots fired from one of two cars traveling past at a high rate …
Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Death (18 and Under) New Hampshire North Carolina Ongoing Investigation Uncategorized
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2020
In Stokes County, North Carolina, a 6-year old found a gun at home this afternoon and shot themselves to death. The child’s name and gender were withheld as were the circumstances in which they got their hands on a gun. A parent was home at the time of the accident. “I couldn’t believe what had …
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020
During a police action in Taft, Texas, a woman was accidentally shot by police. She was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. According to the report, an identified man pointed a gun at police and then retreated into a home. The woman was injured when police then fired into the home. When …
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020
Two people were injured today when guns were accidentally discharged. In each incident the victim was not in the room where the gun was fired. At John Wayne airport in Orange County, California, a sheriff’s deputy accidentally fired his service weapon at 7 AM this morning. The round penetrated a wall and hit an airport …
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2020
In Brentwood, NY, a town on Long Island, a police officer making an arrest shot at a dog that was charging at him. The gunshot killed the dog, but also struck the person being arrested in the wrist. That individual was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. This is the second incident this …
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020
For the second time this week, a Los Angeles County police officer accidentally shot and injured another officer while responding to a problem involving the mental health of a resident. In this incident, the call involved a suicidal man armed with a pair of scissors. The responding officers apparently drew guns to fend off a …
MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020
In an incident that should trigger an investigation of police conduct, a Culver City, California police officer was accidentally shot by another officer while they were chasing a homeless man who allegedly was wielding a knife. In the incident, the homeless man was shot and killed. According to a report, the shooting occurred in mid-afternoon …
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2020
Two people were shot and wounded today in separate accidents caused by friends who were in possession of guns illegally. In Joplin Missouri, a 48-year old man was cleaning a stolen handgun and accidentally shot his girlfriend in the abdomen. She is currently hospitalized in stable condition. Police are investigating the theft. In Murray, Utah, …
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020
In Pasco, Washington, a man using his gun for self-defense in his home accidentally shot himself in the calf and may require surgery. According to the report, the man heard a noise that he thought was a burglar. He was walking with a handgun when it accidentally discharged. Source: Monica Petruzzelli, “Pasco Man Accidentally Shoots …
THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2020
In Caribou, Maine, two brothers were arguing when a third person intervened and showed a handgun, possibly in an effort to stop the fight. When one of the brothers took the handgun and attempted to make it safe, the gun discharged and he was shot in the foot, according to local police. The man was …
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020
In a continuing pandemic of gun violence in Chicago, 11 people were killed and 59 were injured in gun violence this weekend. One of the victims shot himself in the head, in an apparent gun accident, as he was showing off his gun via social media. The 25-year old is in “grave” condition at a …
SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020
There were two gun accidents involving AR-15 style rifles today, each illustrating a combat-designed purpose of the weapon. In the first incident, a Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania man was sleeping in a chair in a wooded area by a pond when he was accidentally shot with a small caliber round fired by one of two men …
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2020
In Anderson County, South Carolina, a woman who was legally carrying a firearm shot herself in the hip as she was entering the Dollar General store. According to the Sheriff’s office, the gun accidentally discharged while inside her purse. The woman was the only one injured in the accident. She was flown to the hospital …
FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2020
An unidentified person was accidentally shot in Dayton, Ohio today. “I just accidentally shot somebody please get down here. Please, it was an accident, it was an accident” a man who called 911 said. … “I’m going to jail, I’m going to jail.” One person was shot, but there was no information about the person’s …
TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020
An armed security guard accidentally shot another guard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania today. According to the report, he was getting into a car when his gun discharged. The guard who was wounded was taken to a hospital in stable condition. Authorities said the shooting was accidental and that no charges were expected to be filed. Source: …
MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2020
In Danville, Virginia, an Alabama resident has been arrested and charged with negligent handling of a firearm after her gun accidentally fired while she was putting it away. The bullet passed through a wall of the hotel where she was staying and struck a guest in the next room. The victim was taken to the …
SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2020
In Kernersville, North Carolina, police were called to a home where a woman had been shot in the abdomen. According to police, she had been shot accidentally by someone else in the residence. She was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing. Source: “Female Victim Accidentally Shot in Kernersville, Taken …
THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2020
At least two men accidentally shot themselves in separate gun accidents today in Richmond, Virginia. The two incidents are part of a report about five separate shootings within an hour in that city. In all, six people were shot, including a teenager and a toddler. None of the five incidents involved a gun being used …
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020
A woman was seriously injured in a Fort Wayne, Indiana gun accident, according to Fort Wayne police. No other information is available. Source: “Woman Hurt after Accidental Shooting,” Wane.com (June 10, 2020).
SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020
In Ogden Utah, a woman was shot in both legs in yet another shooting range accident. The bullet nicked an artery and her injuries will require surgery. A police sergeant said, “[a]n adult male set his gun down and forgot it was loaded. He went to open it up to take it apart, and the …
FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2020
Across the country, serious accidents are occurring when police and national guard troops fire supposedly “less lethal” forms of ammunition at demonstrators, including rubber bullets and pellet bag rounds (fired from shotguns). Not only are peaceful demonstrators being hit and seriously injured, but also rounds are being fired indiscriminately at people who have committed no …
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020
In Bad Axe, Michigan, a man was shot in the shoulder inside his home by one of two men practicing with a 9-mm handgun. The round passed through the woods and through a wall of a neighboring house, striking the 49-year-old male resident in his shoulder, according to the sheriff. After being shot, the wounded …
SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020
In Gladwin County, Michigan a man was shot in the leg during target practice. The Sheriff’s Office says that the injury appeared to be accidentally inflicted. Deputies also found damage to a home in the area where a bullet went through the outside wall and hit an inside wall. Four other people continue to practice …
THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020
In Lincoln, Nebraska, a 57-year old woman was struck by a bullet accidentally fired by her upstairs neighbor. The round passed through the ceiling of her apartment before hitting her in the shoulder. Her injuries are not considered life threatening. The neighbor, a 21-year old man, was arrested and charged with second degree assault. Source: …
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020
In Allen County, Indiana a man shooting at a varmint accidentally struck his neighbor. Although both parties agree that the shooting was an accident, the neighbor is in serious condition at a local hospital. Source: Kayla Crandall, “County Police: Man Accidentally Shoots Neighbor,” WPTA21.com (May 21, 2020).
TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2020
Another innocent bystander was struck by gunfire today. In North Charleston, South Carolina, a woman trying to hide from gunshots was accidentally struck by a man who appeared to be firing for no reason outside a club. The suspect was apparently shooting in the air without intending to hit anyone. Source: Tony Fortier-Bensen, “Female Injured …
MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020
Police accidents are sometimes reported with a remarkable lack of agency. Here is the entire substance of the report: “An officer is hospitalized after he shot himself in the leg while he was off-duty in west Houston, according to the Houston Police Department. Authorities say his gun went off, and the officer was shot in …
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020
A Columbus, Ohio man was transported by MedFlight helicopter today after being accidentally shot while standing in the parking lot of a Logan County shooting range. According to the report, “the incident occurred when, ‘an out-of-town member was placing a gun back into the gun case, and it discharged, hitting another out-of-town member in the upper right leg.’” …
SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2020
There were two more gun cleaning accidents today. In Barberton, Ohio, a woman was shot through both legs when her boyfriend’s gun accidentally discharged while he was cleaning it. The woman had been watching T.V. Her boyfriend was charged with negligent assault. In Rockford, Illinois, a man shot his roommate through an apartment wall when …
Adult Injury Alabama Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Delaware Ongoing Investigation South Carolina
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020
Few details were reported about three incidents in which people were shot and injured in gun accidents today. In Auburn, Alabama a young person was flown to the hospital and is in stable condition after being accidentally shot at an apartment complex. The child’s age and the circumstances of the accident were not reported. In …
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020
In Putnam County, Florida, a Sheriff’s deputy accidentally shot himself in the leg while attempting to fend off an attacking dog. He was hospitalized, but is expected to recover. According to a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s office, “the dog ran after the deputy, and before he could back out of the yard, the dog charged …
MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020
In Campbell County, Virginia, the driver of a car accidentally fired a handgun. The round passed through the door of his car and through the passenger door of a nearby vehicle hitting a woman in the back. She is hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Officials say they determined that the shooting was accidental, but charged …
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2020
For the second time in less than a week, a child was injured in a hunting accident. A child and an adult were turkey hunting in Camp Creek State Park in West Virginia when they were injured by a shot fired by another hunter. He had “mistaken them for a turkey.” The boy suffered more …
MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2020
In Maquoketa, Iowa, a 20-year old man falsely claimed that he was shot in the abdomen by an unknown assailant outside his home. Upon investigation, police learned that he accidentally shot himself. The wounded man, Thomas A. Detro, “admitted in an interview that he walked outside with a revolver and fired multiple ‘warning’ shots into …
Adult Arrested Adult Injury Alabama California Child Injury (18 and Under) Louisiana Ongoing Investigation Texas
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020
Four accidental shooting victims are taking up hospital beds amidst the coronavirus medical crisis, after gun accidents in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and California today. In Jeanerette, Louisiana, a boy was accidentally shot in the neck during “horseplay.” The adult shooter was arrested and charged with illegal discharge of a weapon. A man in Lake Jackson, …
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020
In Edinburgh, Indiana, a police officer who was cleaning a personal weapon accidentally shot his wife in the leg. According to investigators, he did not know that there was a round in the chamber. The woman is in stable condition at a hospital in Indianapolis. Officers are trained to be careful when cleaning their weapons …
SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020
In Lincoln, Nebraska, a thirty-year old man was treated at the hospital after suffering a wound while target shooting with a 9-mm handgun. According to authorities, a bullet ricocheted after hitting a steel target and a fragment of the round hit the man in the leg. No charges will be filed. Source: Lori Pilger, “Lincoln …
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2020
In Springfield, Tennessee, a woman was hit by a stray bullet while walking down the street. She was hospitalized with a non-life threatening wound to her arm. Police are investigating, and believe that the shot was fired on an adjacent street. Source: Jason Hall, “Report: Springfield Woman Accidentally Shot While Walking Down Street,” Fox 17 …
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020
In a variety of jurisdictions across the country today, accidental gunshot wounds sent people to the hospital, where staff are already struggling to find sufficient resources to manage the coronavirus epidemic. Among the accidents was one in Ormond Beach, Florida, where a 22-year old man was shot in the leg when a .22 caliber rifle …
TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2020
In Torrington, Connecticut, two people were injured by a single round fired accidentally from a 9-mm handgun. Their wounds are not considered life-threatening. According to a statement made by a police investigator, “[u]pon arrival of the officers, it was found that a male party, and a female party had both suffered non-life threatening injuries as …
MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2020
The Augusta, Georgia sheriff’s office mobilized units to look for a suspect when an individual was shot in the leg on a city street on Monday afternoon. Investigators later concluded that the shooting was accidental. No charges are pending. The report does not discuss whether the resources used to investigate the incident can be recovered …
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2020
A three-year old girl and her father were both injured in Atlanta, Georgia, when the father’s gun accidentally went off while he was handling it inside their apartment. The father, Sahir Duvall, was shot in the hand and his daughter was shot in the neck. Duvall drove them both to the hospital where they were …
MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2020
A Gadsden, Alabama man shot himself outside the hospital after bringing his wife in for treatment of an accidental gunshot wound. The women’s injuries were not life threatening, but the man was taken to a second hospital where he is reported to be in critical condition. A school two blocks from the hospital was placed …
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020
In Saint Charles, Missouri, a man accidentally shot himself in the leg outside a gun and knife show at the Convention Center. On a day when Americans were asked to remain at home by medical professionals to prevent the spread of the CoronaVirus, medical crews responded to the accident and transported the man to a …
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020
In Laurinburg, North Carolina, a 27-year old man accidentally shot himself outside a Golden Corral restaurant. According to police, the man, who has a concealed-carry permit, “had been trying to take the gun out of [his] holster to put away before going into the restaurant when the gun went off.” The report did not disclose …
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2020
A gun unintentionally discharged in a Grand Forks, North Dakota residence while its owner was attempting to disassemble it. A man in the residence was hospitalized “with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.” There is an open and ongoing investigation. Source: “Man Injured after Gun ‘Unintentionally’ Discharged in Grand Forks Home,” The Grand Forks Herald (March 11, …
SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 2020
After accidentally shooting a woman in Paris, Tennessee, the shooter apparently took his own life. After the accident, the shooter accompanied the woman to the hospital. She was admitted and is in stable condition. The man went missing and then shot himself in the hospital’s emergency medical services building. “We have no indication that it …
FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2020
In another accident involving a police officer, this time in Detroit Michigan, an officer shot herself at police headquarters. She was taken to the hospital where she was listed in serious condition. Compared to most American gun owners, police officers undergo significant firearm safety training. Even with training, accidents frequently occur. Police, for their own …
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020
A school maintenance worker at the Sagemont School in Weston Florida was accidentally shot in the eye by an armed school security officer. The security officer, who worked for a private company, dropped the shooting victim at a local hospital and went home. According to authorities, the security officer, Julian Suarez, was not authorized to …
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2020
In Brownstown, Indiana, a police investigation has determined that a shot was accidentally fired by a man who was handling a handgun in the living room of his home. A bullet from the gun went through the man’s leg and then entered the leg of his 5-year old son. The man was treated and released. …
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2020
A 13-year old Muskegon Heights, Michigan boy fired a flare gun that accidentally passed through a window and started a fire in the home of an 88-year old neighbor. Police officers responding to the incident heard a faint cry for help from inside the dwelling and rescued the 88-year old and her unconscious cat. The …
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020
In Bryan, Texas, two police officers were injured when a gun “accidentally went off” at the police station. Both officers were taken to the hospital, treated and released. A release issued by the Bryan police department says that an administrative review of policies, procedures, and training will take place to determine what can be done …
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020
A man sitting in his apartment in Plano, Texas today was shot in the leg by a neighbor who was moving a shotgun inside his home. The man whose shotgun accidentally fired is expected to be charged with the misdemeanor crime of discharging a firearm. Source: “Police: Man Accidentally Fired Shotgun Inside Plano Apartment, Injuring …
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2020
In Killingly, Connecticut, Mountain Robicheau shot through his leg when showing off his gun to his sister. The man told police that “he was showing his sister the de-cocking mechanism of his Beretta 96A .40-caliber pistol when his finger slipped while he was trying to lower the weapon’s hammer.” Robicheau opted not to immediately go …
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2020
The Police Chief in Magnolia, Arkansas, Todd Dew, was accidentally shot by a fellow officer while attempting to serve a warrant on a man who had violated the terms of his probation. According to a statement, the officers were entering a home when the gun went off and struck the Chief in the back. Chief …
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020
In Dayton, Ohio, a 9-mm pistol accidentally fired when a man and his his grandfather were inspecting it. The man was shot in the foot and taken to the hospital. His name and condition were not released. Source: Nevin Smith, “Man Shoots His Foot, Medics Respond,” Dayton Now (February 8, 2020).
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2020
Police announced today that they are still considering filing charges against an unidentified 21-year old in White Township, Pennsylvania, who accidentally shot his four-month old son with a 9-mm handgun. The boy suffered significant injuries after being hit in the upper body, but is expected to survive. At the time of the shooting, the boy’s …
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
An unidentified man died today after accidentally shooting himself while in line at the Supreme Bean coffee shop in Spokane, Washington. No further information about the accident has been reported. An investigation is ongoing. On the other side of the country, in Cedartown, Georgia, at Zorba’s restaurant, a man accidentally shot himself in the parking …
Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Florida Mississippi North Carolina Ohio Ongoing Investigation Wyoming
FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2020
Of eight reports of accidental shootings today, involving a total of 11 shooting incidents, three occurred in Ohio, one each in Mississippi, Wyoming, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia. None of the 11 shootings was fatal. Two of the incidents involved accidental self-inflicted shootings, three involved young children shot accidentally by others, three involved women apparently …