Posted on 12/12/2017 4:28:16 PM PST by nickcarraway
Investigators working to determine if gun malfunctioned or if the shooting was human error
Harris County authorities say a 36-year-old man walking toward a building that houses a suburban Houston gun range has been shot and killed after a rifle being worked on inside the building discharged.
Sheriff's spokesman Thomas Gilliland said the bullet from the hunting rifle went through a wall and struck the man who had just got out of his car.
A medical helicopter took the man to a Houston hospital where he died later Tuesday morning.
The victim has not been immediately identified.
KXAN-TV is reporting the shooting took place at about 9:15 a.m. Tuesday at the Hot Wells Shooting Range along Northwest Freeway and Barker Cypress Road.
Gilliland said the shooting appears to be accidental and "doesn't seem to be anything other than that at this point."
He said homicide detectives are questioning range employees and are trying to determine if the shooting was the result of a gun malfunction or human error.
Moral is the story: rub it out in private because “accidental discharge” can be deadly.
Sorry, I was raised WRONG.
It’s been a few years, but I have been to that gun range. Was just a normal outdoor gun range.
That’s a negligent discharge in my book.
Bad deal all around. Prayers for him and his family.
Just a reminder to us all that there are no guarantees in life. Better get your money’s worth every day and be ready for a sudden ending. You might want to be “right” with your family and with God, if you are so inclined.
Negligent Homicide.
If you pick up a rifle the first thing you do is check if empty.
IF you are working on a firearm the first thing you do is open the breach and check it empty.
Even if you are sure you were the last one to handle that firearm the first thing you do when you when pick up that firearm is verify it is empty.
Anyone who works on firearms should know that.
if the shooting was the result of a gun malfunction or human error.
= = =
Human error. Always check if loaded. Always treat as loaded.
Assume bullet can penetrate the wall.
Even IF the GUN malfunctions, barrel is aimed in safe direction.
Why was the gun being worked on without clearing it? Total malfeasance and deserves to be sued.
Do we know if it was a gun range employee working on the gun or maybe a customer fiddling around with their gun? That particular range also has a gunsmith in a smaller building next to the range house as well, but I wouldn’t think the gunsmith would make a mistake like that. I suppose its possible that a live round could be stuck in the chamber or the gun had a broken extractor. At this point we don’t know, but this is obviously why you always treat guns as loaded and always pointed in a safe direction.
Yep. The first thing my dad taught me when I was seven and gave me my first .22 single shot rifle.
Gun Malfunction
OR
HUMAN ERROR....
I’ll go with #2.
Sounds like the people involved are not that high up in the gene chain!!!
If there in a round stuck in the chamber one should first discharge the round before working on said weapon!!!
Last night I decided to get up this morning and go to this gun range and start the process of obtaining a concealed carry license. I ended up running a little late. When I got to the entrance it was blocked by the cops. Lots of emergency vehicles inside the facility. Life flight hadn’t arrived yet. I guess I’m lucky to have been running a little late or it could have been me walking across the parking lot.
Look, Wolfie. Homicide AND accident.
Anybody can make a mistake.
But if you fix firearms for a living, if you handle firearms for a living (Gun Shop) it had better be habit (muscle memory) to check a firearm every time you pick one up.
For your safety and everyone around you; every time you pick up a firearm; remove the magazine (if possible), open the breach, verify it empty. Some people like to cycle the bolt several times if it is an auto loader just in case there is a loose cartridge in the tube.
If you are handing the firearm to someone else it should be un loaded with an open breach.
The consequences of not following these rules can be tragic as this accident demonstrates.
>>I guess I’m lucky to have been running a little late or it could have been me walking across the parking lot.
Yeah, it looks like you avoided a possible catastrophe. Thanks for letting us know about your divine intervention or damned good luck.
That is scary.
I am mostly laid back about things but I am ANAL as hell about gun handling.
Darn near every time I shoot I can recall something I could have done better, cleaner or safer in 4 hours at the range.
Commit to ‘the best’ habits and never fail those habits.
Definitely hit close to home and that’s not meant to be a sick pun. At this place you typically park and walk across a large parking lot to the office.
Prayers for the man’s family. And for the employee who was cleaning the weapon. I’m sure he feels horrible.
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