http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070107/News01/70107007
January 07. 2007 6:59AM
Accidental shooting victim tells story
Five accidental shootings occur in the area in the past four months.
ALICIA GALLEGOS
Tribune Staff Writer
SOUTH BEND -- It seemed to happen in slow motion, 23-year-old Jason Martin remembers. First, the explosion of the firearm in his hand. Then the way his pants shook as the bullet pierced first his jeans and then his flesh. And finally the unreal sight of blood seeping out of his thigh. "My leg went numb," he remembered recently. "Then if felt like someone put a blowtorch to my leg. That's when blood went everywhere." Martin had been cleaning his gun with a Q-tip on Dec. 3 as he sat in the living room of his East Eckman Street home. His girlfriend was sitting beside him on the long black couch, and his friends were hanging out nearby. His two small children -- 3 years old and 5 months old -- were upstairs sleeping. The gun usually was kept unloaded, Martin says, and now he believes a friend may have had the firearm out earlier and replaced the bullets. Like he'd done dozens of times before, Martin was leisurely wiping the 9mm handgun, resting it on his lower pelvis with his middle finger on the trigger. Suddenly, it went off. The bullet flew through Martin's left upper thigh and out the back, hitting an artery in Martin's leg, doctors later told him. The projectile then struck the man's left foot. As friends frantically called 911, Martin's brother ran to his aid and applied a handmade tourniquet to the wound. Before the 23-year-old was rushed to the hospital, he had lost almost three-quarters of his blood, he said. He was initially listed in critical condition at the hospital, and worried family and friends gathered at his side. But slowly his condition stabilized and he began to improve. Still, the accidental shooting has left lasting effects on Martin both mentally and physically. And his ability to walk may never be the same again.
Rash of gun accidents
Although Martin's shooting may seem like a freak accident, the incident has actually become more frequent in the last few months. South Bend and surrounding areas have seen at least five accidental self-inflicted shootings since September, including a hunting mishap. The most recent happened Dec. 30, and resulted in the death of 47-year-old Gene Sult of Osceola. Sult reportedly was drinking with friends about 9:15 p.m. at a Mishawaka home in the 100 block of Wayne Street when he began showing off his gun. Sult handed the gun to a friend and when it was handed back to him, he allegedly said, "Don't be afraid, it's got a double safety." Sult then pointed the gun toward himself and began pulling the trigger. Police said that around the fourth pull, the gun went off, killing him. Less than two weeks before, on Dec. 18, 19-year-old Reginald Williams accidentally shot himself in a vehicle while re-adjusting the pistol in his pocket, according to reports. The bullet hit the South Bend teenager in the left pinkie and then entered and exited his left thigh. He was taken to a local hospital by friends. In November a Frankfort, Ind., hunter accidentally shot himself in the stomach with a 12-gauge shotgun while in Marshall County. He had to drag himself 100 yards for help. Robert Greenwood, 40, is now recovering from his injuries and also faces charges for illegal hunting. And in September, 22-year-old Nicholas Donaldson accidentally shot himself in the head at a East Indiana Avenue home in South Bend. The young man was pronounced dead at the scene.
'No such thing as unloaded'
Martin realizes that had the safety been on, he never would have accidentally shot himself with his handgun. He says now he may have been too comfortable with the weapon since he's cleaned guns in the past, and always kept them unloaded. "Normally, I keep it hanging up for only (my girlfriend's) use and mine," he said. Police and gun experts say even veteran shooters sometimes develop complacency when it comes to gun safety. They stress that every firearm should be treated as loaded. "I think that accidental shootings are one of the most preventable accidents if you follow the cardinal safety rules," said South Bend police spokesman Capt. Phil Trent. "(The incidents) are usually related to someone not believing the gun was loaded or not treating it that way."
Owner of Granger Guns, Steve Evans, who teaches hunters' education, agrees. "A lot of it is just lack of concentration," he said. "It's like driving a car. Familiarity breeds contempt." Evans has seen even experienced hunters shoot themselves or others by accident, he said, some while wearing bright orange safety gear. "You hate to see that," he said.
An important rule in gun safety is never to point a firearm at any target you don't intend to shoot at, said Trent, especially body parts.
Gunlocks should also always be used, they stress.
A rocky recovery
Since his shooting a month ago, Martin has been unable to work at his job at an RV manufacturing plant and walks with crutches. His girlfriend, Kati Sparks has had to help care for him, while working and also caring for their two small children. "It's like having three kids," she said. Martin, who was active in boxing and describes himself as fiercely independent, can hardly stand being bound to his home. "It sucks, man," he said. "I'm always on my feet. I love walking." The bullet that hit Martin struck a nerve in his foot, and the limb remains paralyzed right now, he said. The constant pain in his leg often feels like bolts of electricity. The 23-year-old will find out later this month how permanent the damage might be. "I'm hoping this new year will bring me some good luck," he said. But if there's one thing the incident has taught him, he said, it's never too "get too cocky" with a weapon. The old gun adage will now always be on his mind, he says. "There's no such things as an unloaded gun."
Staff writer Alicia Gallegos:
[email protected]
(574) 235-6368
January 07. 2007 6:59AM
Accidental shooting victim tells story
Five accidental shootings occur in the area in the past four months.
ALICIA GALLEGOS
Tribune Staff Writer
SOUTH BEND -- It seemed to happen in slow motion, 23-year-old Jason Martin remembers. First, the explosion of the firearm in his hand. Then the way his pants shook as the bullet pierced first his jeans and then his flesh. And finally the unreal sight of blood seeping out of his thigh. "My leg went numb," he remembered recently. "Then if felt like someone put a blowtorch to my leg. That's when blood went everywhere." Martin had been cleaning his gun with a Q-tip on Dec. 3 as he sat in the living room of his East Eckman Street home. His girlfriend was sitting beside him on the long black couch, and his friends were hanging out nearby. His two small children -- 3 years old and 5 months old -- were upstairs sleeping. The gun usually was kept unloaded, Martin says, and now he believes a friend may have had the firearm out earlier and replaced the bullets. Like he'd done dozens of times before, Martin was leisurely wiping the 9mm handgun, resting it on his lower pelvis with his middle finger on the trigger. Suddenly, it went off. The bullet flew through Martin's left upper thigh and out the back, hitting an artery in Martin's leg, doctors later told him. The projectile then struck the man's left foot. As friends frantically called 911, Martin's brother ran to his aid and applied a handmade tourniquet to the wound. Before the 23-year-old was rushed to the hospital, he had lost almost three-quarters of his blood, he said. He was initially listed in critical condition at the hospital, and worried family and friends gathered at his side. But slowly his condition stabilized and he began to improve. Still, the accidental shooting has left lasting effects on Martin both mentally and physically. And his ability to walk may never be the same again.
Rash of gun accidents
Although Martin's shooting may seem like a freak accident, the incident has actually become more frequent in the last few months. South Bend and surrounding areas have seen at least five accidental self-inflicted shootings since September, including a hunting mishap. The most recent happened Dec. 30, and resulted in the death of 47-year-old Gene Sult of Osceola. Sult reportedly was drinking with friends about 9:15 p.m. at a Mishawaka home in the 100 block of Wayne Street when he began showing off his gun. Sult handed the gun to a friend and when it was handed back to him, he allegedly said, "Don't be afraid, it's got a double safety." Sult then pointed the gun toward himself and began pulling the trigger. Police said that around the fourth pull, the gun went off, killing him. Less than two weeks before, on Dec. 18, 19-year-old Reginald Williams accidentally shot himself in a vehicle while re-adjusting the pistol in his pocket, according to reports. The bullet hit the South Bend teenager in the left pinkie and then entered and exited his left thigh. He was taken to a local hospital by friends. In November a Frankfort, Ind., hunter accidentally shot himself in the stomach with a 12-gauge shotgun while in Marshall County. He had to drag himself 100 yards for help. Robert Greenwood, 40, is now recovering from his injuries and also faces charges for illegal hunting. And in September, 22-year-old Nicholas Donaldson accidentally shot himself in the head at a East Indiana Avenue home in South Bend. The young man was pronounced dead at the scene.
'No such thing as unloaded'
Martin realizes that had the safety been on, he never would have accidentally shot himself with his handgun. He says now he may have been too comfortable with the weapon since he's cleaned guns in the past, and always kept them unloaded. "Normally, I keep it hanging up for only (my girlfriend's) use and mine," he said. Police and gun experts say even veteran shooters sometimes develop complacency when it comes to gun safety. They stress that every firearm should be treated as loaded. "I think that accidental shootings are one of the most preventable accidents if you follow the cardinal safety rules," said South Bend police spokesman Capt. Phil Trent. "(The incidents) are usually related to someone not believing the gun was loaded or not treating it that way."
Owner of Granger Guns, Steve Evans, who teaches hunters' education, agrees. "A lot of it is just lack of concentration," he said. "It's like driving a car. Familiarity breeds contempt." Evans has seen even experienced hunters shoot themselves or others by accident, he said, some while wearing bright orange safety gear. "You hate to see that," he said.
An important rule in gun safety is never to point a firearm at any target you don't intend to shoot at, said Trent, especially body parts.
Gunlocks should also always be used, they stress.
A rocky recovery
Since his shooting a month ago, Martin has been unable to work at his job at an RV manufacturing plant and walks with crutches. His girlfriend, Kati Sparks has had to help care for him, while working and also caring for their two small children. "It's like having three kids," she said. Martin, who was active in boxing and describes himself as fiercely independent, can hardly stand being bound to his home. "It sucks, man," he said. "I'm always on my feet. I love walking." The bullet that hit Martin struck a nerve in his foot, and the limb remains paralyzed right now, he said. The constant pain in his leg often feels like bolts of electricity. The 23-year-old will find out later this month how permanent the damage might be. "I'm hoping this new year will bring me some good luck," he said. But if there's one thing the incident has taught him, he said, it's never too "get too cocky" with a weapon. The old gun adage will now always be on his mind, he says. "There's no such things as an unloaded gun."
Staff writer Alicia Gallegos:
[email protected]
(574) 235-6368
