ND in Ventura. . .

[ETD1010]

Just had a retired Officer shoot himself in the leg with his 1911 when he got into his car. . . about 14 inches of penetration, through his thigh, out the front of his shin and bounced off his left foot (big welt, didn't go through). Cops say the bullet was a HP but it didn't expand, found out it was Winchester SXT. He Got lucky, no artery hit, doens't appear to have hit bone.


I'm still shaken up. . .

[The SoCal Gunner]

Do you know how he was carrying? Wondering if he was fumbling with the gun.

[Turbinator]

How do you think the gun fired if (presumably) it was holstered?

Turby

[5968]

Guy got lucky. I would like to hear more about what happened.

[CSACANNONEER]

I'm glad to hear that he will be alright except for his pride. What part of the county did it happen in? What dept. did he retire from?

[ETD1010]

Apparently he kept the weapon in the car while he came into the shop, and when he went to re-holster it, or something, he pulled the trigger while trying to engage the safety. I have no idea if he unloaded it before he came in and it happened while chambering. I'm not exactly sure WHAT happened, but it went bang. . . definitely felt pretty "stupid" about it. Stayed alert and everything to whole time.

[NeoWeird]

Trying to engage the safety sounds like BS. If he carried it with the safety on, why would he take it off when he left it behind in his car? I can understand if he unloaded it and had to load it back up prior to engaging safety, but I can't see any comfortable way to load a 1911 with it pointing down into your lap.

It sounds to me like he liked to carry it with the safety off (poor choice on a 1911 in my opinion), engaged the safety when he left it behind in the car, and then disengaged the safety prior to holstering it. As he lifted it to holster it, he probably rolled onto his weak side at which point the gun was pointed at his thigh and the gun went off because of any number of things depressing the trigger, including his finger, seat belt, holster edge, etc.

Hope he is all right in the end. He may not have aterial damage, but the muscle damage can wreak havoc on your body.

[ETD1010]

Well, I really don't know what happened, but he mentioned that he DID pull the trigger while trying to engage the safety. Not sure where the weapon was prior, or what the holster situation was. . . I can't even imagine the pain that has to be when you have a bullet tear that much muscle away. That's gonna be one heck of a recovery. . .