Gun Accident During Cleaning

Adult Death Arizona Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Colorado No Charges Filed North Carolina Ongoing Investigation November 14, 2024November 18, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2024

Man Killed, and Two Teens Injured, in Gun AccidentsToday A 60-year-old man died in Gunbarrel, Colorado, after accidentally shooting himself. Officials believe that he was either cleaning or repairing his gun when the accident occurred. In Raleigh, North Carolina, a boy was shot in the leg by a friend, and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. It was …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Georgia Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania Safe Storage in Cars Tennessee Virginia October 16, 2024October 21, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2024

Four-year-old Killed, and Three Other People Injured After Accidentally Shooting Themselves A four-year-old boy left alone in a car in Brunswick, Georgia, found an unsecured gun there and fatally shot himself in the head. The 25-year-old boyfriend of the boy’s mother was charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Police continue to investigate. And in three …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury California Child Injury (18 and Under) Illinois Indiana No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania October 10, 2024October 14, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2024

One Person Dead, Three Injured, in Unintentional Shootings Today In a home in Kokomo, Indiana, 37 year-old Henry Clayton was unintentionally shot and killed by Perry A. Reyes, age 31, with a gun that Clayton had been showing him, and that Reyes mistakenly thought was unloaded. When Reyes got ahold of the gun, he pointed it at Clayton and pulled the trigger, fatally wounding Clayton. Reyes …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury Alabama Alcohol and Guns Florida Pennsylvania Virginia September 19, 2024September 29, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Gun Accidents Involving Law Enforcement Officers; One Woman Killed, Four Other People Injured In Ocala, Florida, a county deputy, Leslie Boileau, killed his girlfriend when he accidentally shot her in the head while they were cleaning guns. According to Boileau, he and his girlfriend both drank three margaritas at dinner. When they came home, they decided that …

Adult Death Adult Injury Arizona Kentucky No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation South Carolina June 29, 2024July 2, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2024

Three Men are Killed, and One is Injured, in Unintentional Shootings In a Carrollton, Kentucky gun store, a customer was examining a firearm when it unintentionally discharged, fatally striking 50-year-old Chad Wainscott with a single round. State police continue to investigate, but don’t anticipate any charges being filed. A man in Maricopa, Arizona was killed by what …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Kansas No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Utah Virginia June 16, 2024June 21, 2024 by Gary Klein

SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2024

Three Unintended Shootings, One By a Three-year-old Child A three-year-old Petersburg, Virginia child found a semi-automatic pistol at home and shot himself in the arm. “A three-year-old shouldn’t have access to a gun,” one neighbor said. According to the report, a friend of the family left the gun on a table with “some articles” on …

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 Iowa No Charges Filed May 24, 2024May 27, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

FRIDAY, MAY 24, 2024

Man Shot Self Cleaning Gun In his home in Waterloo, Iowa, a man unintentionally shot himself in the leg when he took apart his gun to clean it. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. No charges have been filed. Source: Jeff Reinitz, “Waterloo Man Injured in Accidental Shooting While Cleaning Handgun,” wcfcourier.com (May 24, 2024).

Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Children and Guns Illinois Indiana Kentucky Ongoing Investigation Texas May 18, 2024May 22, 2024 by Jo Ellen Ackerman

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024

One Dead, Four Injured in Unintentional Shootings Police originally thought the shooting death of a man in Fort Worth, Texas was a homicide, but evidence determined that he accidentally shot himself. No other information has been reported. In Owensboro, Kentucky, police are investigating the shooting of a 17-year-old boy. The boy’s injuries are not life-threatening, from what officers believe …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Adult Injury California Indiana Iowa No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Tennessee February 6, 2024February 12, 2024 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2024

Woman Killed, and Three Injured in Unintentional Shootings In Memphis, Tennessee, a woman was shot in a vehicle and died. Police say a man and a child were also in the car, and that the child accidentally shot the woman. The woman was a local schoolteacher. The school issued a statement saying they are “deeply …

Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Indiana Michigan No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Texas December 17, 2023December 21, 2023 by Gary Klein

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

One Teen is Killed, Two are Injured in Gun Accidents In Dallas, Texas, police are investigating the accidental shooting death of a 16-year-old. Little information has been reported and the victim’s identity has not been released. In Indianapolis, Indiana, a 17-year-old is in critical condition with gunshot wounds. The suspected shooter remained on the scene …

Adult Death Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Ohio Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania Virginia December 12, 2023December 17, 2023 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2023

Three People Killed in Gun Accidents, Including a Two-year-old In Erie, Pennsylvania, an 18-year-old was unintentionally shot and killed while making a video with two other teens. Each of the three had a gun which they pointed at the camera during filming. One of the guns fired, hitting the 18-year-old in the neck, killing him. …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Child Death (18 and Under) No Charges Filed Oklahoma South Carolina Utah November 24, 2023November 28, 2023 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2023

6-year-old and Two Men Killed In Unintentional Shootings Avery Davis, a 6-year-old, was killed in a hunting accident in Cameron, South Carolina. Avery was in an elevated stand at the time, when it appears he was struck by a stray shotgun pellet fired by someone on the ground. Investigators are waiting for the coroner’s report, …

Adult Death Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) November 18, 2023November 24, 2023 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023

One Killed, Two Injured in Gun Accidents David Shane Nance, 46, was killed in what appears to be an accidental shooting at a makeshift gun range in Mooresville, North Carolina. The suspected shooter and the victim knew each other. The suspect called 911 and is cooperating with deputies in their investigation. Few details are reported, …

Child Injury (18 and Under) Ongoing Investigation Tennessee November 2, 2023November 6, 2023 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

Gun Cleaning Accident Injures 5-year-old A 5-year-old boy in Memphis, Tennessee, is recovering after being accidentally shot in the shoulder by his father. The shooting happened while the father was cleaning his gun. Few details about the incident have been reported, and the sheriff’s office hasn’t said if any charges will be filed. Source: Judy …

Adult Injury Alabama Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Indiana No Charges Filed North Carolina Ongoing Investigation October 13, 2023October 18, 2023 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2023

Teens Shot While Playing with Guns, and Two Other Gun Accidents Today A group of teenagers were playing with guns when two of them were accidentally shot in Center Point, Alabama. A 16-year-old and a 19-year-old were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. As the mayor described the incident, “[a] group of teenagers …

Adult Death Adult Injury Ongoing Investigation Tennessee Texas Washington, DC October 7, 2023October 11, 2023 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023

Unintentional Shootings Leave One Man Dead, Three Others Injured At a campground in Bristol, Tennessee, one man was killed, and another injured in what police called a “negligent discharge of a firearm.” Few details have been reported, and neither man has been identified, as detectives continue to investigate. In Bonney Lake, Washington, according to his …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Kansas October 2, 2023October 6, 2023 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2023

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 …

Adult Arrested Child Death (18 and Under) Florida Ongoing Investigation September 3, 2023September 7, 2023 by Gary Klein

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2023

Baby Shot with Gun that Had Reportedly Jammed Ja’Liyah Allen of Palm Coast, Florida, age 18 months, was shot in the head and killed just before midnight tonight with a round fired from a gun that several witnesses reported was “jammed” at the time of the incident. C.J. Nelson, Jr., the probable shooter, was not …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury California Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Kentucky Michigan Ongoing Investigation South Carolina August 19, 2023August 23, 2023 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2023

Eight-year-old Child is Shot and Killed with Unsecured Gun, and Four Other People are Hurt in Separate Unintentional Shootings A group of children found a loaded, unsecured gun in a home in Detroit, Michigan. It’s unclear what exactly happened once it was found, but the gun went off killing an eight-year-old. An adult has been …

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 August 16, 2023August 19, 2023 by Gary Klein

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 August 10, 2023August 13, 2023 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) New Jersey No Charges Filed Ohio Ongoing Investigation Tennessee Texas August 3, 2023August 7, 2023 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2023

Four People Hurt in Gun Accidents, Including One Child A 7-year-old girl was outside in Camden, New Jersey, when she was hit by a stray bullet. She was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. No other information has been released, but police say the girl was not the intended victim. In Houston, …

Adult Death Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Illinois Juvenile Arrested No Charges Filed Pennsylvania July 15, 2023July 19, 2023 by Gary Klein

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 Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Nevada Ohio Ongoing Investigation July 3, 2023July 9, 2023 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, JULY 3, 2023

Woman Helping Clean a Rifle is Accidentally Shot and Boy is Injured While Target Shooting Robert Sipe, 45, of Findlay, Ohio, unintentionally shot a woman who was helping him clean a rifle. The rifle had not been cleared, and when the trigger was pulled during the cleaning process, a single round was discharged striking the …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Death (18 and Under) Georgia No Charges Filed Ohio May 9, 2023May 11, 2023 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2023

Deadly Accident After Cleaning Gun; Officer Injured When Backup Weapon Accidentally Fires In Columbus, Ohio, 16-year-old Elisha Judd was killed by 20-year-old Tejuan Stanley when he accidentally fired his gun striking her in the forehead. Stanley had taken apart his gun to clean it, and didn’t realize when it was reassembled that there was a …

Child Death (18 and Under) Juvenile Arrested Ohio Ongoing Investigation Texas April 22, 2023April 26, 2023 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2023

Six-year-old Killed in Gun Cleaning Accident; Teen Injured While Playing Around with Gun In Wichita Falls, Texas, a 6-year-old boy died after being accidentally shot in the chest by his father. The child’s father was apparently dismantling the gun to clean it when it discharged, hitting the boy. Police interviewed several people in the home …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Louisiana Ongoing Investigation Virginia April 3, 2023April 7, 2023 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Death New York No Charges Filed March 19, 2023March 23, 2023 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Montana No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Tennessee Texas March 6, 2023March 10, 2023 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2023

Three Gun Accident Injuries in Three Cities In Wolf Creek, Montana, a 74-year-old man was struck and injured when a round fired while his friend was cleaning a gun. The friend, a 54-year-old woman, said she was cleaning the gun and set it on the table and it fired, striking the man. No charges were …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Virginia February 28, 2023March 4, 2023 by Gary Klein

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. …

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 January 28, 2023February 2, 2023 by Gary Klein

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 Death Child Injury (18 and Under) No Charges Filed South Carolina Texas January 14, 2023January 18, 2023 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Kansas Maryland Minnesota January 12, 2023January 16, 2023 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2023—Gun Accidents

Three reports of gun accidents today, two of them reported only via Tweets: A Wichita, Kansas two-year-old found a loaded gun in his home and shot his mother in the foot while she was in bed. Both the boy’s mom and her boyfriend were arrested on child endangerment charges. A 49-year-old Riva, Maryland man shot …

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 January 1, 2023January 8, 2023 by Gary Klein

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 Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Illinois No Charges Filed Utah December 23, 2022December 27, 2022 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2022

In Chicago, Illinois, a ten-year-old girl found a gun in her home and accidentally shot herself in the hand. She is in good condition at the hospital and no arrests have been made. In West Valley City, Utah, a man shot himself in the leg while cleaning his gun. He is in stable condition at …

Adult Death Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Indiana Ongoing Investigation December 17, 2022December 20, 2022 by Gary Klein

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, …

Adult Injury Indiana West Virginia December 9, 2022December 12, 2022 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2022

In Indianapolis, Indiana, a man was cleaning a gun when it accidentally discharged striking a woman in the foot. A 9 mm round was found beneath a window next to a bed, according to the report. In Oak Hill, West Virginia, a man was playing with a gun when it discharged. He struck himself in …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Kansas No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Tennessee Texas November 28, 2022December 1, 2022 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Injury Illinois Minnesota No Charges Filed October 17, 2022October 20, 2022 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2022

Derrick Curtis, an alderman in Southwest Chicago, Illinois, shot himself in the wrist today while cleaning a gun. He is in good condition at the hospital. And in Salem Township, Minnesota, an unidentified 70-year-old man shot himself in the leg, also while cleaning a gun. According to the report, a police deputy applied a tourniquet, …

Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Illinois Kansas Nebraska Ongoing Investigation Virginia October 8, 2022October 11, 2022 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2022

In Roanoke, Virginia, a “juvenile” was killed in a gun accident along a local street. Although circumstances of the accident have not been released, those involved are cooperating with the ongoing investigation. An Arkansas City, Kansas man shot himself in the leg while attempting to clean his 9 millimeter pistol. Such accidents often occur because …

Adult Death Child Injury (18 and Under) Florida No Charges Filed Texas August 27, 2022August 31, 2022 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Injury No Charges Filed Tennessee July 13, 2022July 15, 2022 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2022

In Madison, Tennessee, a man accidentally shot his brother in the face while cleaning his gun. The injured man is in critical condition at the hospital. No charges are expected. There is no report on whether the gun involved in the incident had a loaded chamber indicator, a magazine safety disconnect, or was a Glock, …

Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Pennsylvania Washington May 15, 2022May 18, 2022 by Gary Klein

SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2022

A six-year old Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania apparently found a gun is his home and accidentally shot himself in the head. He is hospitalized in critical condition. And in separate incidents, two Pullman, Washington men accidentally shot themselves and had to be airlifted to the hospital in Spokane. One of the men shot himself in the leg …

Adult Injury Ohio April 26, 2022April 29, 2022 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

In Piqua, Ohio, three police officers returning from the range after qualifying with their service weapons were struck by shrapnel when a gun discharged while it was being cleaned. All three officers were taken to the hospital. The officer who was cleaning their gun apparently did not know the gun was loaded. According to the …

Adult Injury Illinois Maryland No Charges Filed March 30, 2022April 24, 2022 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2022

Two gun accidents were reported exclusively on Twitter today, making one wonder, once again, how many gun accident injuries are never made public at all. A tweeter apparently monitoring a police scanner reported that a Chicago, Illinois “security officer” apparently accidentally discharged his gun and shot himself in the leg. And, in Laurel, Maryland, a …

Adult Injury Connecticut No Charges Filed March 21, 2022April 24, 2022 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022

A Bridgeport, Connecticut man accidentally fired his gun while cleaning it and shot himself in the hand. He was treated at a local emergency room. The report does not explain why he apparently did not know there was a round in the chamber when the incident occurred. Source: “Police: Bridgeport Man Accidently Shoots Hand While …

Adult Injury No Charges Filed Wisconsin February 11, 2022February 14, 2022 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2022

A Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin man shot himself in the hand while cleaning his gun. His wife drove him to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Authorities point out that “[i]t is always advised to ensure a firearm is not loaded when cleaning it.” It might also make sense to buy a gun with a prominent …

Adult Death Ongoing Investigation Washington, DC February 9, 2022February 11, 2022 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2022

Harold James of Washington, DC was lying in watching TV when a bullet came through the ceiling and struck him in the leg. It ended his life. According to authorities, the man living the apartment upstairs from James was cleaning his gun when it discharged. “I don’t think any of us can ever imagine a …

Adult Arrested Child Injury (18 and Under) Michigan January 7, 2022January 9, 2022 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022

A Detroit, Michigan mother accidentally shot her 4-year old daughter while cleaning her gun. The child is at the hospital with critical injuries. Her mother has been taken into custody. The woman involved in the gun accident initially told police that she and the girl had been attacked by an intruder who was attempting to …

Arizona Child Death (18 and Under) Ongoing Investigation October 14, 2021October 16, 2021 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021

An 18-year old Peoria, Arizona man was shot and killed by a friend who was cleaning his gun inside a local apartment. The Peoria police said that the man who fired the fatal shot was reassembling his gun after cleaning it and that it still had a round in the chamber. No other information about …

Adult Injury Child Death (18 and Under) Florida Kansas Louisiana No Charges Filed Washington September 17, 2021September 20, 2021 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021

Every type of gun safety problem was on display in gun accidents that occurred today. All of today’s accidents are tragic, but none more so than the death of a Texas two-year old in Lawrence, Kansas who was shot in the chest while visiting at a local home. Details of the circumstances of the accident …

Adult Injury Kentucky No Charges Filed September 8, 2021September 10, 2021 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021

A Louisville, Kentucky police officer who was cleaning his service weapon in the property room at the station accidentally shot himself in the stomach. He is recovering at the hospital according to the report. Query whether the officer’s gun was a Glock or a similar pistol that requires a trigger pull as part of the …

Adult Death Ongoing Investigation Texas September 4, 2021September 6, 2021 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

According to a witness, a guest at the Omni Dallas hotel in Dallas, Texas accidentally shot himself in the torso while cleaning a gun in his room. He was found dead by police. There is no report of the type of gun involved in the accident, including whether the gun had a loaded chamber indicator …

Adult Arrested Arizona Child Death (18 and Under) August 7, 2021August 10, 2021 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021

In Phoenix, Arizona, 15-year old Valerie Arreola-Loya was accidentally shot and killed by a 21-year old relative who was cleaning his gun. He had removed the magazine from the gun, and then apparently believed that the gun was unloaded. The 21-year old who fired the fatal shot, Alexis Vidrio, was arrested and charged with manslaughter. …

Arkansas Child Death (18 and Under) Child Injury (18 and Under) Children and Guns Ongoing Investigation Utah July 21, 2021July 24, 2021 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2021

In Little Rock, Arkansas, a three-year old found a loaded gun and shot himself in the eye. The boy is in critical condition at the hospital. There was no discussion in the article about how the boy obtained an unsecured loaded gun or about why manufacturers are allowed to design guns that a three-year old …

Adult Injury Iowa No Charges Filed April 24, 2021April 26, 2021 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2021

In Des Moines Iowa, a man who was cleaning his gun accidentally shot and injured a neighbor. The man’s injuries do not appear to be life threatening. Sources: “Police: Man Accidentally Shoots Neighbor While Cleaning His Gun,” weareiowa.com (April 24, 2021).

Adult Injury No Charges Filed Texas April 16, 2021April 18, 2021 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2021

A Houston, Texas man may lose his leg after accidentally shooting himself. Police say the man was cleaning his gun when it went off. Source: “Man May Lose Leg after Accidental Shooting,” News 4 SA (April 16, 2021).

Adult Injury No Charges Filed North Carolina Ohio April 3, 2021April 5, 2021 by Gary Klein

SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021

At least two gun-owners accidentally shot themselves today in separate incidents. The first accident, in Columbus, Ohio, occurred when a man was cleaning his gun. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition. The other accident occurred at the Hawg Pen bar in Raleigh, North Carolina, where a man shot himself in the …

Adult Injury Alabama Child Injury (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Mississippi Ohio Ongoing Investigation Texas March 25, 2021March 27, 2021 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2021

Two teenagers and a child were injured and hospitalized in separate gun accidents today. A 35-year old man and a 32-year old woman were also hospitalized after a fourth accident. In yet another unintentional shooting in central Ohio, an 18-year old who was playing with a gun was rushed to the hospital with life threatening …

Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Iowa Ongoing Investigation Texas March 21, 2021March 23, 2021 by Gary Klein

SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021

One man accidentally shot himself and another shot a teenager while cleaning their guns today. Typically, such accidents can be prevented with load indicators, magazine safety disconnects, manual safeties or cleaning protocols that do not require a trigger pull. Remarkably many guns, including Glocks, require that the trigger be pulled for disassembly and cleaning, leading …

Adult Injury No Charges Filed Wisconsin March 15, 2021March 17, 2021 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021

A 77-year old Fond du Lac, Wisconsin man accidentally shot himself in the hand while cleaning a gun. Police were alerted by a call from the hospital emergency room where the man was treated and released. Source: “FDL Man Injured In Gun-Cleaning Accident,” KFIZ AM 1450 (March 17, 2021).

Child Injury (18 and Under) Illinois Montana New Hampshire No Charges Filed Ongoing Investigation Tennessee March 14, 2021March 28, 2021 by Gary Klein

SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021

13-year old children in Illinois and Tennessee were innocent victims of gun violence today. Both were innocent bystanders when gunfights broke out between others on the street. These incidents are part of an epidemic of innocent bystander shootings associated with a national increase in gun violence. The Chicago, Illinois victim and a man he was …

Adult Injury No Charges Filed Utah March 11, 2021March 13, 2021 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021

At a Richmond, Utah manufacturing facility, a 23-year old employee accidentally shot himself in the leg while cleaning his Glock during a break. He did not realize that the gun was loaded when he attempted to break it down. Police and paramedics responded at the scene. “This individual had fired his firearm about two weeks …

Adult Death Juvenile Arrested Oklahoma March 7, 2021March 9, 2021 by Gary Klein

SUNDAY, MARCH 7, 2021

A Bixby, Oklahoma teenager is charged with first degree manslaughter after accidentally shooting a man while cleaning his gun. The boy, Jackson Bruce, told witnesses that he was on the floor of his bedroom cleaning a gun when it went off and struck the victim in the chest. The victim later died at the hospital. …

Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Idaho Indiana Michigan Ongoing Investigation December 15, 2020December 20, 2020 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020

Children in Michigan, Indiana and Idaho died in gun accidents today. The Michigan accident occurred in Canton Township. Eight-year old Jack Bennett, an only child, died when a bullet discharged as his father was cleaning a gun. According to his mother, Tammy Snyder, “[i]t was a freak accident. It was supposed to be an unloaded …

Adult Arrested Child Death (18 and Under) Ohio Uncategorized December 2, 2020July 17, 2021 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2020

Another Ohio child died in a gun accident today. 12-year old Lidia Ghide of Reynoldsburg, Ohio was inside her apartment when she was shot in the back. Her neighbor, 42-year old Eric Carpenter, was cleaning a gun when it fired. The bullet passed through Carpenter’s front door and into Ghide’s apartment. Carpenter was arrested and …

Adult Injury Ongoing Investigation Texas November 22, 2020November 24, 2020 by Gary Klein

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 November 20, 2020November 22, 2020 by Gary Klein

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. …

Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Ongoing Investigation Texas November 13, 2020November 16, 2020 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2020

Cojuan Singleton, a 12-year old San Antonio, Texas boy, accidentally killed himself with his brother’s gun today. Singleton’s older brother, who owned the pistol, told police he was cleaning the gun and had put it down. Seconds later, Singleton picked it up and accidentally fired it. He was struck in the head. It is unclear …

Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Ongoing Investigation Tennessee October 6, 2020October 9, 2020 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Louisiana September 18, 2020September 21, 2020 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, two friends had returned home from a visit to the shooting range when 19-year old Brandon Spratley accidentally shot 20-year old Jermaine Sampson. Spratley was attempting to unload his handgun when the accident occurred. Sampson died at the hospital. Spratley was arrested and charged with negligent homicide. Source: “20-year-old Killed in …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Georgia Ongoing Investigation August 18, 2020September 4, 2020 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020

Michelle Ansley, a 40-year old Thomson, Georgia woman was accidentally shot by a family member who was cleaning his gun. Ansley was shot in the leg and was taken to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead. Police are investigating, but gun cleaning accidents are common, especially with certain guns that lack basic safety …

Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Missouri Ongoing Investigation Utah August 2, 2020August 5, 2020 by Gary Klein

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, …

Child Death (18 and Under) Ongoing Investigation Texas July 20, 2020July 22, 2020 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, JULY 20, 2020

A three-year old Arlington, Texas boy died today in yet another tragic gun cleaning accident. According to police, an “adult relative” was cleaning a gun when it fired and shot both the boy and the person who had been cleaning the gun. That person suffered non-life threatening injuries. The toddler died at the hospital. No …

Adult Injury No Charges Filed Utah June 6, 2020June 9, 2020 by Gary Klein

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 …

Child Death (18 and Under) North Carolina Ongoing Investigation Texas May 25, 2020May 29, 2020 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2020

Memorial Day was marked by accidental gun violence and the death of two children. In North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, 16-year old Nathaniel Brooks was accidentally shot in his home by his father, Mathew Brooks. The local chief of police determined that the shooting was an accident involving a semi-automatic handgun. Mathew was cleaning the gun. …

Adult Arrested Adult Injury Illinois Ohio Ongoing Investigation May 10, 2020May 29, 2020 by Gary Klein

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 …

Child Injury (18 and Under) Florida Ongoing Investigation May 8, 2020May 29, 2020 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2020

A two-year old Florida child was shot by a man who was cleaning his gun, according to Escambia County sheriff’s deputies. The child was hospitalized. No further information was reported. Source: “Deputies: 2-year-old Accidentally Shot while Gun Owner was Cleaning Firearm,” WEAR TV (May 8, 2020).

Adult Injury Indiana No Charges Filed April 15, 2020April 18, 2020 by Gary Klein

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 …

Adult Death Ongoing Investigation South Carolina April 7, 2020April 15, 2020 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

In another fatal gun accident, an unidentified 19-year old Goose Creek, South Carolina man is dead after he was shot inside a local home. According to investigators, the “shooter was trying to show the victim how to clean the weapon but failed to ensure the gun was empty, leading to the fatal shot.” The shooter …

Adult Arrested Adult Death Arizona March 31, 2020April 15, 2020 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2020

In Chandler, Arizona, Jordan Taylor was arrested after accidentally shooting his wife. According to Taylor, he and his wife were new gun owners. One of their guns fired while he was cleaning it and struck his wife in the chest. She later died at the hospital. Taylor claimed that the same weapon had also accidentally …

Child Injury (18 and Under) Ongoing Investigation Texas March 29, 2020March 31, 2020 by Gary Klein

SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2020

A Liberty County, Texas man was cleaning a 9-mm semi-automatic pistol when it accidentally fired and struck his 15-year old son in the lower back. The boy was flown to a hospital in Houston and is expected to survive. The gunshot was reported to have caused a “through and through wound.” Source: “Father Cleaning Gun …

Child Death (18 and Under) Child Under 18 (as Shooter) Juvenile Arrested Nebraska February 12, 2020February 22, 2020 by Gary Klein

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020

14-year old Jesus Jimenez Solis was cleaning a gun in his bedroom when it accidentally fired, killing his 15-year old friend, Sylas Lieb. Jimenez Solis, an Omaha Nebraska boy, was holding the gun in his lap and wiping it with a towel when it went off. Lieb died at the scene. According to investigators, Jimenez …

Child Injury (18 and Under) No Charges Filed West Virginia January 21, 2020February 17, 2020 by Gary Klein

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2020

According to authorities, a 17-year old Charlestown, West Virginia teen shot himself in the arm today while cleaning his gun. No charges will be filed. Source: Bailey Pace, “Teen Accidentally Shoots Himself According to Sheriff Dept.,” WVVA (January 21, 2020).

Adult Arrested Indiana No injuries January 20, 2020February 26, 2020 by Gary Klein

MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2020

A bullet accidentally fired in Chesterton, Indiana, near Gary, passed through two adjoining apartments and narrowly missed a three-year old child. According to a police report, Samuel Duley, a 22-year old, was cleaning his rifle inside the apartment building when it went off. He had removed the gun’s ammunition clip, but “he must have spaced …

Adult Injury Child Injury (18 and Under) Ongoing Investigation Tennessee January 10, 2020February 16, 2020 by Gary Klein

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020

Bronson Reed, a 45-year old father in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee was cleaning a 9-mm pistol in his home when it went off unexpectedly. The bullet struck Reed in the leg and then hit his seven-year old son. At the time the story was reported, the child remained hospitalized. An investigation is ongoing. Source: Ken Nicholson …

Child Injury (18 and Under) New York Ongoing Investigation January 2, 2020February 16, 2020 by Gary Klein

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020

An accidental shooting on Long Island, New York today was blamed for one injury and a multi-vehicle crash that injured four others. A 25-year old Plainview man was cleaning a firearm in his home when it discharged, hitting a 17 year-old who was with him in the neck. As the 25-year old rushed the teen …

Adult Arrested Child Death (18 and Under) Tennessee December 8, 2019February 16, 2020 by Gary Klein

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019

In Memphis Tennessee, 20-year old Alex Brown was arrested after accidentally shooting and killing a four-year old boy. Brown told police, “he was unloading his pistol when it accidentally fired and struck his nephew in the head.” A police official pointed to the importance of gun safety practices. “As a parent of three, two teens …