Child shot inside gun shop

WBNS 10 TV Columbus Ohio ^ | Mar 9th 2004 | Roger McCoy

[kAcknor]

Authorities say a weapon discharged inside a store while an employee was showing it to a customer, with the bullet hitting a child standing nearby.

It happened at Woodbury Outfitters at approximately 1:55 p.m. Monday afternoon. The Coshocton County sheriff's office received a 911 call reporting it.

Eyewitnesses say the bullet richocheted off the floor and struck a 2-year-old child in the leg. The child was taken to a local hospital and then flown to Columbus Children's Hospital by a MedFlight helicopter.

Two-year-old Ryan Gildow remained hospitalized Monday night following surgery. He was listed in fair condition after the bullet was removed.

The owner of Woodbury's, Joe Miller, opened the sportsman's store about 18 months ago.

"Our policy is obviously no loaded guns inside the store," Miller told 10TV.

Miller says a store employee was showing a Walther PPK 380 handgun to a customer. According to investigators, for one reason or another, the employee put a bullet into the gun's chamber.

"He went to eject the round by racking the slide, at which time the fire arm discharged," Coshocton County Sheriff Tim Rogers said.

The .380 caliber bullet ricocheted off the floor and struck Gildow, who was standing with his father on the other side of the store. Miller, still in anguish over what happened by the hand of one of his own employees, explained what happened next.

"The second it happened, we dialed 9-1-1. They responded very quickly, thank God."

Gildow was rushed to a Coshocton hospital, and then transported by MedFlight to Children's Hospital where he underwent surgery to remove the bullet.

The store employee was questioned by sheriff's deputies. Monday night, investigators said it appeared to be a tragic accident.

"Shouldn't have ever have happened. Then you compound that being a two-year-old boy, it just is extemely tragic," Sheriff Rogers said.

The employee who fired the shot that wounded Ryan was said to be feeling terrible about the accident. It is up to the Coshocton County prosecutor to decide if this accident will lead to any charges.

[kAcknor]

Didn't see this posted. Don't like to see it at all.

"The employee who fired the shot that wounded Ryan was said to be feeling terrible about the accident."

I bet he does.

[kAcknor]

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[RKV]

Jail would not be too much. Basic safety rules were ignored - obviously.

[Integrityrocks]

Oh just great..... I can see the media jumping on this one. HANDGUN IN GUN SHOP TARGETS 2 YEAR OLD!

[Saundra Duffy]

Well, thank God the child is in "fair" condition. There is no excuse for this happening!!!

[stands2reason]

If it had been a hardware store and a nailgun, I wonder if charges would be considered.

Oh, lest I forget, DUMBASS! What kind of idiot works in a gun shop and doesn't know the basics of gun safety?

[kAcknor]

No, jail would not be harsh in this case. I'm in a local shop often, but I've never seen anyone put a live round in any firearm outside the ranges. There is just no need. If you must have something in for testing use a snap cap!!

[Bud Krieger]

Miller says a store employee was showing a Walther PPK 380 handgun to a customer. According to investigators, for one reason or another, the employee put a bullet into the gun's chamber.



"Ex-employee" I would imagine.

[drjack]

My most favvorite and least favorite place to be is the local gun shop. Lots of nice hardware but the usual arrogance (and in this case head-in-ass syndrome) that accompanies the stereotypical staff is cause to stay away.

[kAcknor]

HANDGUN IN GUN SHOP TARGETS 2 YEAR OLD!

"Child shot inside gun shop" is bad enough. ;(

[Servant of the 9]

Amazingly sensible media report. Not a single screaching gun grabber quoted. Sarah Brady nowhere in sight.

So9

[kAcknor]

"Ex-employee" I would imagine.

At a minimum I hope.

BTTT back in a hour or three...

[Levy78]

Again, an example of poor gun safety getting someone hurt. I have yet to hear of a gun loading itself, pulling its own trigger and injuring someone. This reinforces that we should be placing a bigger emphasis on gun safety. Nobody in their right mind would say that guns aren't extremely dangerous when mishandled. They demand to be treated with respect.... I'll say it again, GUN SAFETY.

Society will always be full of careless folks, but we should alwawys try to limit their damage via awareness. Unfortunately, a kid got hurt. Perhaps this story will cause someone to check the chamber before they handle a firearm when they may not have done so otherwise.

Peace,

Levy78

[Papabear47]

You are probably correct about the news media....The individual who loaded that weapon was either poorly trained or just plain stupid....I worked in the firearms department of a sporting goods store as a high schooler and to load a weapon in the store would have been reason for termination of employment with no questions asked.I did have customers ask me to instruct them in loading and unloading a particular firearm and on such occasion I would have one of my adult supervisors(I was 14)instruct them with snap cap rounds....That is what this individual should have done instead of a live round.

[stylin19a]

He went to eject the round by racking the slide, at which time the fire arm discharged,

Is this possible ?

[Levy78]

A. Either he is lying and accidentally pulled the trigger or...

B. There is a malfunction in the handgun.

[Rocky Mountain High]

When I was in college, I worked at a pawn shop one year that sold a lot of guns. One time a cop came in, removed his duty weapon and began trying out holsters from a box we had. The owner of the shop, a man with a low tolerance for BS, came over and asked if the gun was unloaded. The cop smirked and said something to the effect of :"I'm a police officer, you don't need to worry." The owner said he didn't give a s*** and threw the guy out.
It was awesome!

[GhostofWCooper]

"Walther PPK 380 handgun"

EXTREMELY DOUBTFUL, but anything's possible..
I would think he had jacked the round IN, then tried to lower the hammer, and it went off.

We really don't need this level of stupidity in a gunshop.

[tcuoohjohn]

Maybe "reckless display of a firearm" or "Reckless endangerment w/ firearm" Maximum sentence for RD is about 90 days in jail or a five thousand dollar fine. Reckless endangerment comes with a steeper price..about 18 months to 3 three years.

The store is in deep doo-doo though. Clearly this employee wasn't being supervised properly and they can expect a civil suit. Can't say as I blame the parents.

[tcuoohjohn]

Yes...If he racked the round in from the magazine and the hammer was back as he went to rack it out of the chamber the hammer could have been dropped setting off the round. Some cheap fourth tier .380's can do that. The Taurus knock off of the Beretta 92F was prone to so that. Something about sear pins as I recall.