Accident During Police Action

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Delaware Illinois Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) Ongoing Investigation October 3, 2024October 8, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2024

Two People Shot During Police Stop, and Toddler Fires Unsecured Gun Injuring One An investigatory police stop in Chicago, Illinois, resulted in a police officer and 16-year-old Marcus Gracey sustaining gunshot wounds from an unintentional discharge of a gun in Gracey’s possession. Officers noticed a gun in Gracey’s waistband while he was walking along a …

Adult Arrested Child Injury (18 and Under) Georgia Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) June 23, 2024June 27, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 2024

Five-year-old Girl Unintentionally Shot by Deputy During Carjacking At a gas station in Atlanta, Georgia, five-year-old Skylar Adams was asleep in the back seat of her mother’s car, when a deputy fired at the vehicle to prevent 25-year-old Roshauny Mike Palmer from carjacking the car and fleeing. Skylar was injured and is recovering at the …

Adult Injury Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) Nevada No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation June 19, 2024June 24, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2024

Unintended Discharge From Officer’s Gun Injures Three A plainclothes officer was working a rodeo in Reno, Nevada, when his handgun fell to the ground and fired a single round resulting in debris that injured three people. The handgun fell when the officer’s holster got caught on a fence he jumped while rushing to assist a …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Indiana Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) Ohio Ongoing Investigation Wisconsin June 11, 2024June 14, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2024

Three People Wounded in Accidental Shootings In a farm field in Stone Creek, Ohio, a 12-year-old boy was wounded when a rifle unintentionally discharged after falling off the ATV he was riding. The .22 caliber rimfire bolt-action single-shot rifle, fired a round into the boy’s chest after hitting the ground. He was airlifted to the hospital for …

Adult Injury California Illinois No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Washington February 9, 2024February 14, 2024 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2024

Three Injured in Accidental Shootings In Cahokia Heights, Illinois, after crashing his car in a police pursuit, a man pulled out a gun while trying to flee and accidentally shot himself. State police will investigate the incident. A person was accidentally shot in the neck in an apartment in Seattle, Washington. Police found multiple people …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Louisiana Nevada No Charges Filed North Carolina February 2, 2024February 6, 2024 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2024

Toddler and Teen are Killed, and Police Officer Wounded in Unintentional Shootings In Greenville, North Carolina, Kayden Swinnely, 3, shot and killed himself after he found a loaded, unsecured gun inside his apartment. A 13-year-old had unlocked the gun safe and left the firearm where Kayden was able to access it. The two children were …

Adult Injury Ohio Ongoing Investigation West Virginia December 13, 2023December 18, 2023 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2023

Three People Hurt in Gun Accidents In Eskdale, West Virginia, a 24-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were injured when a gun they were handling exploded. The man had a gunshot wound to his head and the woman’s injury was to her hand. According to investigators, the pair didn’t use the proper ammunition for the …

Adult Injury Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Indiana New York No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Texas August 30, 2023September 4, 2023 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2023

Five-year-old Boy Kills Himself with Unsecured Gun and Two Law Enforcement Officers Unintentionally Shoot Themselves A five-year-old boy found an unsecured gun and unintentionally shot and killed himself in Gary, Indiana. A 32-year-old man was to check in on a 17-year-old girl and the boy while adults were away. He arrived at the home after …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Arizona North Carolina Ongoing Investigation August 11, 2023August 14, 2023 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2023

Two People Unintentionally Injured in Shootings Three people driving around in a vehicle in Mesa, Arizona were attempting to rob people at gunpoint. When police gave chase, the robbers crashed the car, then ran in different directions. However, they were all ultimately taken into custody. Two were males under the age of 18, the third …

Adult Injury Ongoing Investigation Tennessee July 28, 2023July 31, 2023 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2023

Man is Unintentionally Shot During Traffic Stop As police were trying to arrest a man in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, a handgun in his waistband unintentionally fired, striking him in the lower leg. The man drew the police’s attention when he had ignored a stop sign in a vehicle that had no license plate. During the …

Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Children and Guns Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) Mississippi No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Texas June 8, 2023June 12, 2023 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

Six-year-old Shoots Sister While Looking for Candy; Deputy’s Rifle Discharges While Executing a Warrant In Marion County, Mississippi, a 3-year-old was unintentionally shot in the head by her 6-year-old brother. During the investigation, the sheriff’s office learned that the boy came across a loaded firearm while looking for candy in their grandmother’s bedroom. The victim …

Adult Death Alabama Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Pennsylvania West Virginia May 13, 2023May 18, 2023 by Gary Klein

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 May 12, 2023May 18, 2023 by Gary Klein

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 Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Louisiana Ohio Ongoing Investigation Texas May 4, 2023May 7, 2023 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2023

Three More Unintended Gun Injuries In Shreveport, Louisiana, a 6-year-old girl was rushed to the hospital after being hit by a stray bullet. Her condition is described as “life-threatening.” She was playing in her front yard when the occupants of two vehicles began shooting at each other as they traveled down her street. Describing it …

Adult Injury Michigan Missouri Ongoing Investigation May 1, 2023May 4, 2023 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, MAY 1, 2023

Two Self-Inflicted, Accidental Shootings Near Schools In Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, a 20-year-old man shot himself while fleeing from police. A passerby reported seeing two men, a ski mask, and a gun near a local elementary school. When police approached, the two men ran, and the one carrying the gun accidentally shot himself in the abdomen …

Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Missouri Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania April 17, 2023April 23, 2023 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 2023

Two Injured in Gun Accidents Today A Southaven, Mississippi child accidentally shot themself and was sent to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No further details were reported. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an armed man unintentionally shot himself in the leg when police, responding to reports of a person with a gun, tried to disarm him. …

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 April 13, 2023April 17, 2023 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Death New Mexico Ongoing Investigation April 5, 2023April 10, 2023 by Gary Klein

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 Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Kansas Ohio Rhode Island Texas April 1, 2023April 4, 2023 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2023

Five Unintentional Shootings Result in Five Injuries At least five people were injured in gun accidents in the United States today. A 13-year-old Cincinnati, Ohio boy was critically injured when a friend shot him in the back. The police incident report indicates that the shooting was accidental, but police continue to investigate and are still …

Adult Injury Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Kansas Kentucky Mississippi No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Texas February 20, 2023February 24, 2023 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2023

No Charges to be Filed After 10-year-old Dies in Gun Accident The sheriff in Calhoun County, Mississippi announced that no charges will be filed after Oaklee Brasher, a 10-year-old boy, died in an accidental shooting today. No other information about the circumstances of the incident have been released. Four other shootings resulting in injuries …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) North Carolina December 12, 2022December 16, 2022 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022

A Zebulon, North Carolina police officer shot himself Monday night during an attempt to arrest a suspect in Wake County. Zebulon Police say that Officer Colby James responded to a suspicious car at Zebulon Community Park. The suspect, 51-year-old Deserie Byrum, was subject to an outstanding county warrant. When James tried to arrest her, Byrum …

Adult Injury Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) Wisconsin December 7, 2022December 11, 2022 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2022

One of the police officers conducting a “welfare check” on a Hobart, Wisconsin resident, accidentally shot himself in the hip while attempting to subdue the man. The incident occurred alongside a highway and closed down all eastbound lanes. The man had pulled over on the side of the road where the incident occurred. The officer’s …

Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Colorado Ongoing Investigation October 14, 2022October 17, 2022 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2022

A Westminster, Colorado teenager involved in a high-speed chase in a stolen car unintentionally shot and killed himself when the vehicle crashed while making a turn at an excessive rate of speed. Police had identified the stolen car based on witness statements and were involved in a chase on local streets. They were aware that …

Adult Death Alabama Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Ongoing Investigation Texas Washington January 29, 2022January 31, 2022 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022

Three people were unintended victims of gun violence today, including an off-duty police officer who was mistakenly shot at his home by another officer who mistook him for an armed robbery suspect. In Athens, Texas, an 8-year old was shot in the head with a bullet that came out of a wooded area behind his …

Adult Arrested Adult Death California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Georgia Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) Texas December 23, 2021December 26, 2021 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

In North Hollywood, California, Valentina Orellana-Peralta, a 14-year old girl who was shopping for a quinceañera dress, was accidentally shot and killed in a department store dressing room when a bullet passed through a wall during a police action at the store. She died at the scene. Los Angeles police were shooting at an assault …

Adult Injury Maryland No Charges Filed November 10, 2021November 13, 2021 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2021

An off-duty Upper Marlboro, Maryland police officer accidentally shot herself while reporting to a purported crime scene. Following the accident, she was taken to the hospital for surgery and is now in stable condition. According to the report, she responded to an argument at a local barbershop and believed there was a robbery in progress. …

Adult Injury Illinois Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) No Charges Filed October 20, 2021October 22, 2021 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021

A Chicago, Illinois police officer, engaged in a struggle with an unarmed suspect, accidentally fired his service weapon and struck two other officers. One was shot in the arm and the other in the shoulder. Both officers are reported to be in good condition. A gun was later found in the suspect’s car. Source: Charlie …

Adult Injury Indiana Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) Ongoing Investigation August 22, 2021August 24, 2021 by Gary Klein

SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2021

In Indianapolis, Indiana, a man struggling with a mental health crisis lunged for an officer’s gun while waiting for an ambulance. The gun was holstered at the time of the incident. In the struggle over the gun, the officer was shot in the leg and the man he struggled with was shot in the hand. …

Adult Death California Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) August 21, 2021August 23, 2021 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2021

In Guadalupe, California, police are investigating an officer involved shooting that caused an unintended death. According to the report, an officer fired his gun while attempting to make a street arrest in connection with a felony warrant. The round did not strike the suspect, but rather struck and killed a bystander, Juan Luis Olvera-Preciado, age …

Child Injury (18 and Under) Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) Ongoing Investigation Texas March 3, 2021March 6, 2021 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021

In a complicated incident today, Houston, Texas police accidentally shot a one-year old child in the head. They were reportedly attempting to prevent a carjacking at the time of the incident. The baby is in stable condition at the hospital. Police report that they were chasing an armed suspect, wanted for several aggravated robberies. At …

Adult Death Idaho Ongoing Investigation February 8, 2021February 10, 2021 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021

In Idaho Falls, Idaho, a police officer mistook a man with a gun at a housing complex for a wanted suspect with a gun. The officer shot and killed the wrong man. Although details of the accident are unclear, the officer involved was placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation. “The truth that we …

Adult Injury Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) Ongoing Investigation Texas August 30, 2020September 1, 2020 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Injury Law Enforcement Action (At Time of Report) New York Ongoing Investigation August 14, 2020August 16, 2020 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Death Adult Injury California Ongoing Investigation August 3, 2020August 16, 2020 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Injury California No Charges Filed Texas June 5, 2020June 9, 2020 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Death Ongoing Investigation Texas May 29, 2020June 1, 2020 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020

In Missouri City, Texas, a sheriff’s deputy who was responding to a call from a resident “saying she saw someone running down the street who looked suspicious,” accidentally shot and killed Caleb Rule, a local deputy constable, who was also responding to the call. According to a local authority, “the two agencies share a radio …

Adult Injury Florida No Charges Filed May 6, 2020May 29, 2020 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Injury Arkansas No Charges Filed February 11, 2020March 3, 2020 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Injury Florida No Charges Filed December 20, 2019February 16, 2020 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019

A Davie, Florida police officer shot himself in the hand while attempting to shoot at a dog that was charging at him. The dog was grazed by the bullet and is said to be OK. Source: “Davie Officer Shoots Himself While Attempting to Shoot Charging Dog,” 7 News Miami (December 20, 2019).

Adult Death Iowa No Charges Filed December 9, 2019February 16, 2020 by Gary Klein

MONDAY DECEMBER 9, 2019

The Associated Press reported that it had gathered reports of 1,422 unintentional gun discharges by police since 2012 at 258 different law enforcement agencies. It called its information gathering a “snapshot” of the problem because there are no reporting requirements for such incidents. The reports document all incidents in which a gun went off when …