Kids with Guns in Ohio

Local news reports

LORAIN, Ohio - Lorain Police say 24-year-old Angelica Melendez said her three-year-old daughter was shot in the head by her four-year-old brother, who didn't know it was a real gun.

Police said the 911 call was filled with chaos and confusion caused by the dad who lied to police, telling them two men came to the door wearing hooded sweatshirts, shot at him and the "bullet struck the girl," according to the police report.

Police said the father was heard speaking in Spanish in the background, telling the mother to say men who were breaking in and fired a gun.

"He did make up a contrived story. I don't know if he was trying to protect the four year old or protect himself, if he's not allowed to have a handgun or not," said Lieutenant Roger Watkins.

Police said 27-year-old Jeremy Morales kept the loaded gun in a bedroom dresser and that a prosecutor will decide if Morales should be charged for not securing the gun and for lying to police.

"He could be charged with endangering children and it depends on whether the child makes it, and it's going to be up to the Lorain County Prosecutor," Watkins said.

"He COULD be charged????"

You know what would make this a lot simpler?  Proper gun control laws, including licensing of all gun owners and registration of all guns. If we had that, the responsible person could be easily identified.

Texas Woman Arrested After Fatally Shooting Boyfriend - No Lengthy Investigation

Local news reports

Police have arrested a woman for the fatal shooting of her boyfriend in Kirby Friday morning.

Raquel Ramos, 43, is being charged with manslaughter. Officials with Kirby Police say the woman shot and killed her boyfriend when he apparently tried to show her how to fire a shotgun.

Police say the woman's boyfriend arrived at the home with a shotgun and began showing her how it worked. That's when he was hit in the chest and killed. The woman's son was also inside the home at the time of the shooting, and was not hurt.

Police say alcohol was a factor in this incident.

Detroit 7-Year-old Shot by Neighbor Trying to Save Him From a Dog Attack

The Daily Mail

A seven-year-old boy was accidentally shot by a neighbour who was trying to rescue him as he was attacked by a dog, Detroit police have said.

The boy was taken to hospital for treatment for a gunshot wound following the incident in Warwick on Detroit's west side at about 8pm last night.

Police have said the boy was being attacked by a dog when a neighbour came outside to try and rescue him, WXYZ Detroit has reported.

The neighbour tried to shoot the dog but missed and injured the boy, it has been reported.

The dog was later shot and killed, according to the Detroit Free Press.

It is also understood police were hoping to speak to the neighbour who fired the shots, although it is not known if he will be charged with a crime.

Someone please take note of this one for the next time the gun-rights fanatics try to claim that only cops shoot people unintentionally while aiming at the bad guys.

Indiana Lawful Gun Owner Charged in 3-Year-old's Accidental Shooting

Local news reports

A man charged Friday in the accidental shooting of a toddler in January originally told police the gun just fired – he didn’t know how.

Rojelio Rubalcada, 24, then said he saw the 3-year-old girl pick up and drop the gun, which is when it fired and hit the girl in the leg.

In court records, the child’s mother told police that Rubalcada said right after the shooting that he had dropped the loaded gun.

Ohio Man Arrested Immediately for Accidentally Shooting His Wife

Local news reports

The husband of a 46-year-old woman shot in the buttocks at their home this afternoon was charged with negligent assault. 

Kent Scott told Springfield police he picked up a backpack from the floor when a handgun fell out. As he reached to pick it up, it discharged, Springfield police Sgt. Doug Pergram said. 

Kimberly Scott was hit in the left buttock, and the bullet was lodged in her right buttock near her hip, he said. 

"It was an accidental gunshot wound," Pergram said. 

The couple was not arguing, and drugs or alcohol was not involved, he said. 

Kent Scott was processed and released from the Clark County Jail, Pergram said.

Tennessee 18-Year-old Dead - No Charges

Local news reports

According to police, 18-year-old William Blackwell was visiting a home on the 2300 block of Woodridge Drive when the shooting happened on March 17.

Witnesses told police Blackwell was holding a .25-caliber pistol that belonged to 18-year-old Robert Goodner when Goodner told Blackwell the safety was off and asked for the gun back.

Goodner told police he mishandled the gun after it was given back to him and it went off, hitting Blackwell in the neck.

The two have been best friends since they were young children, and police say by all accounts the shooting was a terrible accident.

William Blackwell, 18, of Nashville, passed away Sunday after he was shot by a friend last week. No charges have been filed against 18-year-old Robert Goodner, the best friend police said was holding the gun when it went off.

Virginia Homeowner Shoots Himself While Checking on Imaginary Intruder

Shooting Range Accident - Bumbling Cop Shoots Himself in the Leg

Local news reports

A civilian police officer employed with the United States Marine Corps Support Facility at Blount Island accidentally shot himself Thursday morning while training at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office firing range at 4727 Lannie Road, according to police.

The unidentified federal police officer was putting his handgun in his holster at about 10:55 a.m. when he shot himself in a leg, base deputy commander Jim Hooks said.

“The trigger was pulled and he shot a round through his calf,” Hooks said.

Ahhh, finally we have a proper reporting of a negligent discharge, "he shot himself in a leg."

Now, what was all that nonsense about reporters having to use the passive voice and blame the gun in order to avoid law suits?  Greg insisted on that wild explanation for all the lousy reports we've seen. 

Will there be legal ramifications because of this one, Greg?

Bumbling Louisiana Hunter Kills his Buddy - No Biggie - Just Be More Careful Next Time

Local news reports

Joseph H. Stevens Jr., 33, was killed in what is believed to be an accidental shooting while on a hunting trip with Stacey M. Trapp, 37.

According to Trapp, as the two walked back to their cars and came across a net-wire fence.

As they walked along the fence searching for an easier way through Trapp squatted down to go under some bushes with his rifle slung over his shoulder when the weapon accidentally fired and fatally shot Stevens. 

Investigators do not suspect foul play at this time.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries advises hunters to use basic hunting safety procedures while going to and from hunting locations, including keeping the gun on safe and not having any bullets or shells in the chamber.

Ohio Hunter Found Dead in a Tree Stand

Local news reports

The Coshocton County Sheriff's Office says a hunter died after he apparently shot himself accidentally. 

Authorities identified the man Tuesday as 63-year-old Gary Pace. Media reports said he was from Warren in Jefferson Township. 

The sheriff's office said in a news release that deputies and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources responded to the shooting about 10:30 a.m. Monday and found the hunter in his tree stand on his property. He was pronounced dead at the scene from an accidental gunshot wound. 

Sheriff Tim Rogers told the Coshocton Tribune that Pace was alone and in the tree stand, about 20 feet off the ground. He told the newspaper that Pace had a single gunshot wound to the head from a handgun. He was discovered by a friend.

Wyoming Hunter Shoots Himself in the Leg

Local news reports

A 21-year-old Riverton man was airlifted to Casper on Sunday reportedly after shooting himself in the leg with a shotgun.

According to reports, the man was duck hunting along the Wind River east of Riverton when he lost his footing on an embankment at about 8:40 a.m. Sunday.

"The gun apparently fell out of his grasp, and during the fall the weapon discharged," Undersheriff Ryan Lee said.

"The shot struck his right femur, and he landed partially in the river."

The weapon was identified as a .20-gauge shotgun loaded with three-inch magnum steel shot.

"Several details of the case remain unclear," Lee said. "The victim was unable to communicate with the investigating deputy due to being in shock."

Elderly Louisiana Man Drops Gun - It Fires and Hits Him - No Charges

Local news reports

Monroe police responded to a reported accidental shooting that at approximately 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the 800 block of East Rimes Street. 

According to a news release from the Monroe Police Department, an investigation revealed an elderly male subject was in his own carport when a handgun fell from his jacket pocket. The firearm hit the ground and discharged. The bullet struck the homeowner in his right thigh and groin area. 

The homeowner was alert and sitting in a chair when first responders arrived. He was taken to an area hospital, where he was treated for moderate to serious injuries. 

The homeowner was with his family at the residence, and no one else was injured. 

The incident is being investigated at an accidental shooting and no charges are pending.

Pennsylvania Man Gets 7-14 Years Because the Arresting Officer was a Bumbling Idiot and Shot his Partner

Local news reports

A Baldwin Borough man was sentenced to 7 to 14 years in prison for his actions earlier this year which led to the accidental shooting of one police officer by another.

Bryan Lijewski, 30, pleaded guilty to possession of oxycodone, child endangerment, recklessly endangering and simple assault before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Kathleen Durkin on Aug. 29.

According to the prosecution, Baldwin police were called to a home on Elmwood Drive on Feb. 10 after they received a call that he was suicidal and walking around inside with a shotgun.

When officers arrived, Lijewski opened the door but refused to show his hands. He tried to close the door, but a Baldwin officer put his foot on it, and Sgt. Ralph Miller pushed his shoulder against it to open it.

The first officer’s gun went off, and struck Sgt. Miller between his protective vest and his belt.

According to the prosecution, the shot shattered the officer’s pelvis and caused paralysis in the lower part of one leg. Sgt. Miller must now use a cane to walk and it is unlikely he will be able to return to work.