ND/AD Man shoots self and wife

[Fri]

I saw these articles on the local paper's website today. The details are pretty thin though. The first link is the initial story, the second is the update.

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/503347.html

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/503411.html

Husband, wife injured by accidental gunfire
By the Herald staff
A man and woman from Renton were transported to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland on Saturday night after a gun the man was holding accidentally fired and hit them both, said the Benton County Sheriff's Office.

The couple reportedly were at a friend's house on the 4800 block of East Mayo Loop in West Richland, officials said, adding that names aren't yet being released.

The man was sitting on a couch when the 9mm gun went off, shooting a bullet through his fingers and into the back of his wife's leg, sheriff's officials said, adding that she had just stood up from the couch.

Their injuries were nonlife-threatening and no charges have been filed, officials said.

UPDATE: West Richland couple identified in Saturday’s accidental shooting
By Paula Horton, Herald staff writer
West Richland A 33-year-old West Richland man was showing a friend the decocking mechanism on his 9 mm gun when it accidentally went off, striking him and his wife, authorities said.

A bullet went through Richard C. Betcher’s finger and into the back of his wife’s leg, said Benton County sheriff’s Capt. Steve Keane.

Richard and Stephanie, 29, were taken to Kadlec Medical Center in Richland following the accidental shooting Saturday night in the 48000 block of East Mayo Loop.

Their conditions were not immediately available Monday, but their injuries were said to be nonlife-theratening.

Sheriff’s officials initially said the couple was from Renton, but Keane confirmed Monday that Betchers live in the home where the shooting occurred and their friend was visiting from Renton.

 

[desert gator]

Guns are dangerous, I am working here in Utah right now and they just had a 13 year old boy accidentally kill a 16 year old girl when he went to show a gun to her. Somehow the boy had stolen the gun from his grandfathers safe.

 

[Maelstrom]

The man was sitting on a couch when the 9mm gun went off,

Something about that statement is hilarious. It's like he had absolutely NOTHING to do with the gun firing. The way it's written he could have been on the couch while the gun was on a table across the room.

 

[maksim]

chalk one up to stupidity.

Playing around with a loaded gun, not in a position where it can be fired safely.

This is where gun controllers have a field day.

 

[BHP FAN]

yeah it would be funny if it weren't such a propaganda coup for the Opposition.

 

[Jim Watson]

That's what THEY said. I think a substantial proportion of "accidental discharges" while showing off or "cleaning" a gun are murder or suicide, attempted in this case, accomplished in many.

 

[GlockFan1954]

According to national vital statistics report there are around 700 accidental gun deaths per year.

Worry more about lightning cars fires surgery poison falling swimming murder choking airplane accidents etc.

But of course be safe. I am all for mandatory safety classes and competency tests for handgun owners. No right is absolute and that's a reasonable line. Just don't make it too burdensome.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Guns are dangerous, I am working here in Utah right now and they just had a 13 year old boy accidentally kill a 16 year old girl when he went to show a gun to her. Somehow the boy had stolen the gun from his grandfathers safe.

More like stupidity is dangerous. The same things happen every year with cars, power tools, electic appliances etc.

They have to put warning labels on toasters saying "Don't use in the bathtub".

Hint: It ain't the gun

 

[Izaak Walton]

Let’s see.
What was that rule?
Always point in a safe direction…


If the gun GOES OFF as stated, nobody gets hurt.
Some rules are not meant to be broken.