Contributed File Photo: A man was treated at MGRMC on Tuesday after accidentally shooting himself in his leg.
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – A man was treated at Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center on Tuesday after accidentally shooting himself in his leg, according to authorities.
Deputies were initially dispatched at about 10:53 a.m. to a residence off Reidhead Road east of Solomon regarding an accidental gunshot. Upon arrival, the victim was the only person in the vicinity.
According to a Sheriff’s Office report, the man was sitting on a chair in his garage with a gunshot injury to his right leg. A small handgun still inside a closed-button holster was on the floor roughly 20 feet from the injured man.
The victim allegedly told authorities that his handgun went off when he dropped it while removing it from his pocket. He said he was getting ready to get into his truck to leave when he realized he had the firearm and didn’t want to take it with him. He reached into his pocket to take it out but fumbled with the gun and it fell to the ground and discharged, with the round striking him just above his right knee.
After being struck, the man said he sat down, tied a bandanna around his leg to slow the blood loss, and called for help.
The .25-caliber, black Armi-Galesi-Brescia-Brevetto handgun was still in its leather holster, with a bullet hole through the end. Upon removal, a deputy noted the gun’s safety was off and the spent casing was still in the gun since the slide hadn’t functioned due to being in the holster.
The man was treated at the hospital for his injury, and the gun was released to his wife.
According to the National Rifle Association (NRA), the fundamental rules for safe gun handling are:
- Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction. This is the primary rule of gun safety. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.
- Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. When holding a gun, rest your finger alongside the frame and outside the trigger guard. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.
- Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.
