Dude carrying a gun in public in VA has an AD that ends in his own death

[rellascout]

Unfortunately, it sounds like the guy simply "Plaxicoed" himself. It wasn't the first, and won't be the last time. A lot of people who shouldn't handle potentially dangerous objects do so. Is there anything that can be learned from this one that can't be learned from the others?

That is what it sounds like to me too. I would really love to know if he had it in a holster.

It amazes me that anyone would carry a Glock in a pocket with no holster. Even with a pocket holster I wouldn't do it. I will only carry a Glock on my waist.

 

[ny32182]

Defective product with damages (loss of life) resulting.

On the contrary the product likely performed exactly as designed and would fall under frivolous lawsuit category that was, I believe, passed under the previous administration.

 

[rellascout]

On the contrary the product likely performed exactly as designed and would fall under frivolous lawsuit category that was, I believe, passed under the previous administration.

I agree unfortunately for this guy the product worked as designed.

 

[Bobson]

I wonder if anyyone has compiled statistics to determine which brand and model firearm is most often used in these situations.

Expect any study on the topic to produce skewed results. More popular brands are likely to be higher in AD/ND numbers, because there are so many more of those weapons being used.

For example, I'd expect Glock to be #1 in ND/AD numbers, considering the massive number of Glocks being carried in the US (figure the number of LE agencies issuing Glocks, not to mention civilian owners). That being said, I find Glocks to be extremely safe weapons.

 

[allaroundhunter]

More popular brands are likely to be higher in AD/ND numbers, because there are so many more of those weapons being used.

While I tend to agree with this, how often do you hear about a AD/ND with a Sig? They are very widely used in LE and I don't know the last time when I heard about an AD/ND with one....

It is the relatively light trigger pull of the Glock when compared to the first, heavy DA pull on the Sig (and other DA/SA) weapons that makes the difference.

 

[JohnBT]

I should have read the rest of the WTVR report.

"The family friend said..." the guy probably just had it loose in his pocket.

 

[msparks]

What a sad thing to hear / read about. Prayers going out to his family.

If you are reading this and don't carry your gun in a proper holster your wrong.

Be safe.

 

[basicblur]

There is nothing unsafe about a Glock carried with a round in the chamber unless it is in untrained hands.

I guess we better define "untrained"?
Retired Va. police officer's gun discharges in restaurant, 3 injured.

And now for the rest of the story...
Local gun shop boyz also on the Rescue Squad answered the call, and here's their info:
1. It was a Glock
2. He was Mexican carrying
3. Got up from the table and reached down to cinch his pants...
4. He had been warned by the boyz at the gun shop he shouldn't be Mexican carrying a Glock
5. At one time, he was an instructor for the local PD (don't know if this was pre-retirement, after retirement, or both?)

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Why do some people feel that if a Glock goes off when you put your finger (or object) in the trigger guard, and tug, that it is somehow defective, and Glock needs to be sued?

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Simple solution ... don't chamber a round in a carry gun.

Simple and better solution, carry with a good holster and be smart about it. Carrying unchambered is no excuse for poor handling.

Why do some people feel that if a Glock goes off when you put your finger (or object) in the trigger guard, and tug, that it is somehow defective, and Glock needs to be sued?

Ignorance or not knowing how the gun works. When the gun was fired, how did it hit to mortally hit him?

 

[bobmcd]

how did it hit to mortally hit him?

Femoral artery is likely. Very difficult to stop the bleeding.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Thats what I was thinking, must have been at the 1-2 o'clock position.

 

[jmstevens2]

Yea, the femoral is not exactly on his hip. It runs pretty much medial along the femur fairly peripheral. Not exactly where the buckle is, It had to be in the pocket, my guess is it traversed across to the left leg and took out that femoral Maybe something else too on the way. Assuming it was in the right pocket. I don't know of a drivers seat with the buckle on the left. Think about it, to be comfortable it was likely aligned with the "crease" created at your hip when you sit. If it was parallel to the leg in the pocket, it would have gone toward the knee, not the hip.

But that is just a guess from what has been said.

 

[NOLAEMT]

Simple solution ... don't chamber a round in a carry gun.

how is that at all a solution?

Please find any respected, defensive firearms trainer that teaches to keep a defensive firearm unloaded? Or any police agency for that matter?

On a more serious note, even without a direct hit to the femoral artery, it is still very possible to die rapidly from a shot to the pelvis. When hit by a bullet, the pelvis can fracture, and a fractured pelvis is very unstable, unable to support itself or keep its shape. Any movement after that (like might happen after realizing you have just been shot) can cause movement of the fragmented pieces of bone and these fragments can easily lacerate artieries and veins inside the pelvis.

 

[Tallinar]

Simple solution ... don't chamber a round in a carry gun.

I dunno. I carry my gun with *gasp* SIX rounds chambered, and I haven't had any issues yet. As has already been stated, most folks carry with rounds chambered. The gun isn't exactly ready to save your life if there's no round chambered.

Sad story. Feel bad for the family.

 

[SunnySlopes]

Originally Posted by RobSitka
Simple solution ... don't chamber a round in a carry gun.

I absolutely disagree. How about, if you choose to carry, you invest in an adequate holster. Such as comptac, or some such.

 

[W.E.G.]

"pocket carry" anybody?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...t-parking-lot/2011/11/14/gIQASJKxLN_blog.html

Capt. Elizabeth Scott, the public information officer for the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office....said the incident should serve as a reminder to gun owners to properly holster their weapons.

“If you’re going to be carrying a weapon, know your weapon and know that it should always be in a holster,” she said. “A good holster, you’re not going to be able to accidentally hit the trigger.

 

[HammerheadSSN663]

this news bums me out. some kid lost their dad right in front of them.

 

[rondog]

I remember a story about a local officer shooting himself with his Glock. He was holstering it and the hem of his jacket got in the trigger guard as he holstered it, shooting him in the leg.

I've never fired a Glock, don't think I've ever even handled one. But they don't have a safety, do they? Other than that trigger-lever thing? And is it even possible to de-cock a loaded Glock? Once charged, are they hot all the time?

 

[W.E.G.]

The Glock has the same "safety" as a Smith and Wesson revolver.

The Glock is "hot all the time" in the same way as a Smith and Wesson revolver.

In each instance, you fire the weapon by simply pulling the trigger.
In each instance, neither weapon will fire UNLESS you pull the trigger.

Folks have been having ND's since the first Chinese chemist figured out how to make gunpowder.
No matter how many locks and switches you put on a gun, people will still find a way to fire it when they shouldn't.

 

[HorseSoldier]

The lawsuit would be against Glock, filed by his NOK/estate. Defective product with damages (loss of life) resulting.

I can see this getting some traction. I think the "Glocks are dangerous because they don't have a safety" meme is prevalent enough that it might resonate with a layperson, including the right/wrong judge. I'm pretty sure the only reason there hasn't been an "innocent killed by Glock ND" storyline on one of the Law and Order franchises or similar is that the network would get sued by the company even though it's a torn-from-the-headlines kind of story.

If plaintiff's atty needs any expert testimony, he can just go to any internet gun board. Everyone knows that there are too many ADs (yes, AD, the atty will insist) with Glocks--worse, they can go kaBOOM!

I bet that DEA agent who was the only guy professional enough in the room to carry a Glock 40 is looking for work and some expert witness testimony would help him pay the mortgage.

Yea, the femoral is not exactly on his hip. It runs pretty much medial along the femur fairly peripheral. Not exactly where the buckle is, It had to be in the pocket, my guess is it traversed across to the left leg and took out that femoral Maybe something else too on the way. Assuming it was in the right pocket. I don't know of a drivers seat with the buckle on the left. Think about it, to be comfortable it was likely aligned with the "crease" created at your hip when you sit. If it was parallel to the leg in the pocket, it would have gone toward the knee, not the hip.

Or at that range, it could have been a most any position where a discharge resulted in a broken femur that then contracted and severed the femoral artery. Less likely, but possible, and a 40 round at contact shooting range will definitely break a femur.

 

[chhodge69]

Clearly this individual was carrying and handling a gun in a in proper manner

um... I don't think so. With all due respect to the deceased, you cannot make any gun idiot proof. Safeties don't make them safe. It's not hard to imagine how getting into and out of a drivers seat could defeat even a good holster. You have to keep your primary safety engaged 24-7... the one between your ears. And a thumb break helps too, but thats a personal preference.

 

[GLOOB]

^Dude. I think he agrees with you. I'm reading in proper as improper.

I know 99.9% of people disagree, but carrying a gun pointed at my hip, femoral artery, and/or junk makes me nervous, even with a holster. After all, at some point the gun is intended to come out of that holster in a hurry. I'd hate to Tex Grebner myself somewhere even worse than the leg.

It's easy for me to keep the gun pointed away from me while holstering, carrying, and drawing, whether OC or CC. So that's what I do.

5. At one time, he was an instructor for the local PD (don't know if this was pre-retirement, after retirement, or both?)

This is why they should remove the 8+ hrs of classes/training required in some shall issue states and replace it 20 minutes of instruction and a test of basic cognitive function, logic, and problem solving. Anybody with the free time and $150 can get certified to be a firearms instructor. And learning/memorizing is very different from understanding and doing.

I bet that DEA agent who was the only guy professional enough in the room to carry a Glock 40 is looking for work and some expert witness testimony would help him pay the mortgage.

LOL. Thanks for the laugh. I'm sure there are plenty of people that are experts at accidentally hurting themselves that would like to get paid for their testimony. The opposing lawyer would have a field day.

 

[Inebriated]

Simple solution ... don't chamber a round in a carry gun.

That's not a solution, that is a work-around. A solution would be using a better method to carry.

 

[12131]

Damn, sad. Must have hit the femoral artery.