Apparently a gun periodical writer recently alluded to an incident in which the late Bill Jordan, famous writer, Border Patrol agent, and trick shooter, accidentally shot and killed a fellow BP agent. There was a raging debate on another forum about until it got locked because the moderators there don't like any sort of lively discussion.
There is a posting on the BP web site showing that agent John Rector was accidentally shot and killed in the Chula Vista station on October 16, 1956. Some have suggested that it was Jordan who caused Rector's death. Others said maybe it was Charles Askins but he wasn't in the BP at that time (left in 1939). Others though maybe it was Harlon Carter but he was in DC by then.
Anyone have positive info on this shooting? Anyone know where Jordan was stationed at the time of the incident? I have heard BP veterans swear it was Jordan and I have heard BP veterans swear it wasn't. I will cut and paste the info from the BP site.
C&P:
At approximately 11:30 a.m., October 16, 1956, Patrol Inspector John A. Rector was accidentally shot by the firing of a .357 Magnum revolver by a fellow officer. The mishap occurred at the Chula Vista Sector Headquarters where two officers were discussing various guns and their limitations and advantages. During the course of the conversation, the .357 Magnum was unloaded, examined, then reloaded, and placed in a desk drawer. The two officers then examined a .22 revolver and soon the discussion returned to the .357 Magnum. At this point one of the officers reached into the desk drawer, picked up the pistol, and without realizing that it had been reloaded, pulled the trigger.The bullet passed through a partition wall into Patrol Inspector Rector's office where it struck him in the left jaw and ranged up through his head. Upon arrival of an ambulance and a doctor, Patrol Inspector Rector was removed to the Paradise Valley Hospital in National City. Two neurosurgeons from San Diego were called; however, nothing could be done for Inspector Rector. He died at approximately 2:00 p.m. the same day.
There is a posting on the BP web site showing that agent John Rector was accidentally shot and killed in the Chula Vista station on October 16, 1956. Some have suggested that it was Jordan who caused Rector's death. Others said maybe it was Charles Askins but he wasn't in the BP at that time (left in 1939). Others though maybe it was Harlon Carter but he was in DC by then.
Anyone have positive info on this shooting? Anyone know where Jordan was stationed at the time of the incident? I have heard BP veterans swear it was Jordan and I have heard BP veterans swear it wasn't. I will cut and paste the info from the BP site.
C&P:
At approximately 11:30 a.m., October 16, 1956, Patrol Inspector John A. Rector was accidentally shot by the firing of a .357 Magnum revolver by a fellow officer. The mishap occurred at the Chula Vista Sector Headquarters where two officers were discussing various guns and their limitations and advantages. During the course of the conversation, the .357 Magnum was unloaded, examined, then reloaded, and placed in a desk drawer. The two officers then examined a .22 revolver and soon the discussion returned to the .357 Magnum. At this point one of the officers reached into the desk drawer, picked up the pistol, and without realizing that it had been reloaded, pulled the trigger.The bullet passed through a partition wall into Patrol Inspector Rector's office where it struck him in the left jaw and ranged up through his head. Upon arrival of an ambulance and a doctor, Patrol Inspector Rector was removed to the Paradise Valley Hospital in National City. Two neurosurgeons from San Diego were called; however, nothing could be done for Inspector Rector. He died at approximately 2:00 p.m. the same day.
