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 …
Tag: Accident During Police Action
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
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 …
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
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 …
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 …
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
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
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 Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Louisiana Ohio Ongoing Investigation Texas
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 …
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
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
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 …
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
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
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 …
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 …
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 …
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
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
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 …
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. …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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).
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 …