Posted on 01/08/2017 9:02:27 AM PST by marktwain
Image courtesy Mando Martinez
Just after midnight on 1 January, 2017, Texas Representative Amando "Mando" Martinez was struck on the head by a bullet or bullet fragment. It seems most likely that it was celebratory gunfire, and a "spent" projectile. From themonitor.com:
The incident, which is being investigated by the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office, reportedly occurred just after midnight Sunday, when Martinez was celebrating the New Year with family and friends outside a residence located north of Weslaco in the 5400 block of Sago.Looking for more information on the injury, I found that the bullet had penetrated the skull.. barely. That is a very serious injury, and not to be made light of. Usually bullets that retain enough force to penetrate an adult skull are fired at relatively low angles. To further complicate the case, it was reported that a bullet fragment was removed, not a complete bullet. If the bullet were falling at terminal velocity, powered by gravity alone, It is far less likely that the bullet would fragment. From valleycentral.com:
The sheriff said Martinez felt something on top of his head and was rushed to a local hospital after the representative's wife observed a small hole on the top left side of her husband's head.
A deadly conduct investigation has been launched in reference to the incident, the sheriff said.
The bullet went through Martinez's skull, but didn't cause any brain damage.Without pictures of the projectile removed, forensic detection work will have to be left to the officers in Hidalgo County who are investigating the case.
"Truly the hand of God, you know," said Martinez, a Democrat who represents the mid-Valley.
Doctors at Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco transferred him to Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, where surgeons removed the bullet fragment.
Ah, the benefits of a diverse culture.
From What culture is “celebratory gunfire”?
Good thing he has no vital organ in there....
third world practices? Don’t they do this weekly in Chicago?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebratory_gunfire
I had a neighbor when I lived in a dense neighborhood in St. Pete who, every New Years, would get so thoroughly hammered he could barely hold his .357 up to fire it. Each time he would fire off six rounds at midnight. Each time I’d roll off the bed and hug the carpet.
A posting from back on Jan. 1, different source if anyone
is interested in the comments thereon:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3509934/posts
Texas lawmaker hit in the head by stray bullet on New Year’s Eve,
expected to recover ^
“The bullet went through Martinez’s skull, but didn’t cause any brain damage.”
Too easy.
L
If it’s a bullet “fragment” that injured the congressman would it be more likely to be the result of a ricochet instead of a falling “spent” bullet that had been fired into the air?
CC: #5
Fragment would indicate a ricochet. Not enough detail to know for sure.
I don't know about that. There was a tourist in New Orleans who was killed by a falling bullet years ago during New Years celebration.
I went up into my attic not too long ago to investigate the source of an unusual leak that appeared in my ceiling. I discovered what appeared to be a perfect 9mm hole in my metal roof.
I’d like to dedicate this song to stray bullets everywhere
What goes up must come down
Spinnin’ wheel got to go ‘round
Talkin’ ‘bout your troubles it’s a cryin’ sin
Ride a painted pony let the spinnin’ wheel spin
Read more: Blood Sweat & Tears - Spinning Wheel Lyrics | MetroLyrics
If you live in Arizona, you better have some darn good marksmanship skills.
June 14, 1999: Arizona, A fourteen-year-old girl, Shannon Smith, was struck on the top of her head by a bullet and killed while in the backyard of her home.[31] This incident resulted in Arizona enacting “Shannon’s Law” in 2000, that made the discharge of a firearm into the air illegal
Was it a flat roof?
Could you tell the direction it came from?
Yes, “Shannon’s Law”. I remember it well. As I recall the case involved a drunken idiot firing a rifle at about 45 degrees from vertical.
Anything fired at angles at significant variation from vertical have a significant horizontal component to them.
I should have made clear that I was talking about the vertical component, which is usually the terminal velocity of the bullet in atmosphere. Generally the terminal velocity is under 400 fps, which is considered about the minimal velocity for a non-cutting projectile to be deadly.
I’m reminded of the scene in “The Amityville Horror” where a disembodied voice tells the new homeowners to “get out!”
It’s a warning, I tell ya!
NSFW:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InLfUMjyKNo
The roof is pitched. I have no idea where it came from. We're not in a very high populated area.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.