Accidental Discharge

[Unisaw]

Off-duty Seattle officer accidentally shots himself in leg

By Seattle Times staff



A Seattle police officer working off-duty at a north Seattle grocery store accidentally shot himself in the leg last night.

The 11-year veteran was wearing his police uniform while working at Larry's Market in the Oak Tree Plaza, near the intersection of Aurora Avenue North and North 100th Street, said Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb.

Around 11:50 p.m., witnesses said the officer was adjusting his holstered weapon when it discharged, possibly firing two rounds, Whitcomb said. One of the bullets struck the officer in his upper right thigh and out through his calf. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center but as of this morning, his condition was unknown. Homicide detectives are investigating the shooting.

Whitcomb could not say what kind of handgun or holster the officer was using.


Two questions:
(1) Who wrote the headline?
(2) Why the need to "adjust" his holstered weapon?

 

[Jim K]

"Adjusting his weapon" is cop speak for "the dumb sh*t was playing around with his gun when it went off."

Jim

 

[TheFederalistWeasel]

Really?

Amazing, everytime I get out of my patrol car I need to adjust my duty belt, the holster always rides forward a bit when I sit in my car for long periods of time, restricting access to my right front pocket where I keep my money.

I usually grab the “belt†by placing my hand around the bottom outside of my Safariland Raptor level III holster and my other hand in a similar fashion around my radio holder on my left side and push up and twist slightly to move the whole package back into place.

You wear a duty belt for any period of time and it becomes very uncomfortable and adjustment is mandatory.

Let me guess about the gun, it was a Glock…

 

[trickyasafox]

sounds like a candidate for MANPONS

 

[Chupacabra]

All Seattle PD officers are issued Glock22s.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I carry my Glock 23 in a Fobus paddle holster which I have put on, taken off, and adjusted numerous times. Yet somehow I've never managed to shoot myself. Gosh, it must take special police training to do that.

 

[AirForceShooter]

Twice????
somebody has got to be kidding.
Weapon malfunction?

AFS

 

[Chipperman]

More likely finger malfunction.

 

[Tom Servo]

Reminds me of a situation I walked in on once in Atlanta. It was a convenience store, late at night. There was an officer talking to the clerk behind the register. They were discussing the "ninjitsu" that the clerk was supposedly an expert in, and the officer drew his gun and slammed it down on the counter with the muzzle facing the clerk, and said, "yeah, well this wins every time."

I just froze. The officer looked at me, reholstered and said, "ah, we're just kidding. Safety's on." (It was a Beretta) I smiled, put my Pepsi down on the counter and walked out.

Granted, this is probably a one in a million sort of occurence, but still, some folks just get too damned casual when they carry a gun all the time. I've also seen this kind of BS from armed security guards before, though not on that level.

There is no such thing as an "accidental discharge" on any modern, reasonably-maintained service pistol. Only negligence.

 

[teCh0010]

If he had a proper holster that fully covers the trigger guard I don't see any way for him to shoot himself while adjusting his belt. Sounds more like he was playing with his gun and holstered it with his finger in the trigger guard.

 

[HighVelocity]

Somebody will probably LEAK the stores surveillance video soon enough.

 

[Powderman]

Yep, something smells.

SPD uses G22's with minimum Level 2 Safariland Holsters. Lots of guys use the 070 Level III, but some also use the 6280, and another level 2 I can't identify.

Shot himself? TWICE? Hmmm....better throw out that salmon, cause it's sure starting to stink around here....

 

[Bear Gulch]

I suggest the investigators put their boots on. Sounds like a poor grip while reholstering. Gun slipped, he grabbed hitting the trigger, recoil and pain led to a second reflexive grab and second cap pops.

Once again accidental and discharge should never be used in conjunction.

 

[Tory]

Sounds like a BAD case of

ballistic mastur - uh, MANIPUlation.

"...adjusting his holstered weapon....." Yeah, that's a plausible excuse for shooting yourself - TWICE!