DEA agent shoots self during gun safety class for Orlando kids

The Miami Herald ^ | Fri, Apr. 30, 2004 | Associated Press

[archy]

DEA agent shoots self during gun safety class for Orlando kids

Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. - A federal drug agent shot himself in the leg during a gun safety presentation to children and his bosses are investigating.

The Drug Enforcement Administration agent, whose name was not released, was giving a gun safety presentation to about 50 adults and students organized by the Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association, witnesses and police said.

He drew his .40-caliber duty weapon and removed the magazine, according to the police report. Then he pulled back the slide and asked someone in the audience to look inside the gun and confirm it wasn't loaded, the report said.

Witnesses said the gun was pointed at the floor and when he released the slide, one shot fired into the top of his left thigh.

"The kids screamed and started to cry," said Vivian Farmer, who attended the presentation with her 13-year-old nephew.

"Everyone was pretty shaken up," Farmer said. "But the point of gun safety hit home. Unfortunately, the agent had to get shot. But after seeing that, my nephew doesn't want to have anything to do with guns."

The agent was treated at Orlando Regional Medical Center after the April 9 shooting and returned to work, DEA special agent Joe Kilmer said.

Police ruled the shooting was an accident, but the DEA headquarters in Washington was still investigating, Kilmer said.

[archy]

Let's see what Dave Barry eventually has to say about this one....

[dead]

I hope he had the decency to kick in his own door first.

[camle]

Florida! what else can one say?

[taxcontrol]

Wow, what a great demonstration that a weapon should ALWAYS be considered loaded! I'll bet that is one class the kids wont forget!

[MineralMan]

Uh-oh. The guy broke the first rule here. It's just a fortunate thing that it was his own thigh that got hit and not some kid's.

Dumba$$

[Monty22]

"He drew his .40-caliber duty weapon and removed the magazine, according to the police report. Then he pulled back the slide and asked someone in the audience to look inside the gun and confirm it wasn't loaded, the report said. "

Something isn't adding up, I bet he forgot to take the mag out first.

[biblewonk]

When my dad was in basic training the Drill Sgt. put an M-14 up to his chin to prove that it didn't have much of a recoil. He had done it several times before but this time he broke his jaw.

[OXENinFLA]

He drew his .40-caliber duty weapon and removed the magazine, according to the police report. Then he pulled back the slide and asked someone in the audience to look inside the gun and confirm it wasn't loaded, the report said.

Witnesses said the gun was pointed at the floor and when he released the slide, one shot fired into the top of his left thigh.

Something here does NOT make sense.

If he did both (remove the mag. & pull back the slide) why was there still a round in the gun?

[Old Sarge]

" But after seeing that, my nephew doesn't want to have anything to do with guns."

And another Leftist is born.

I nominate this agent for The Darwin Award.

[swarthyguy]

Do DEA agents have to undergo drug tests like the rest of us?

[umgud]

Releasing the slide is not what made the gun fire. The ole finger on the trigger routine was at work here.

[Hodar]

WANTED: The Drug Enforcement Administration needs more agents. Competitive pay, good benefits, full medical. Job responsibilities include: DEA work, giving gun safety courses and demonstrating ballastics of mishandling a loaded weapon. Please call (800)DUM-SH*T for prompt consideration. HS Diploma optional.

[ClearCase_guy]

the gun was pointed at the floor and when he released the slide, one shot fired into the top of his left thigh

I pointed the gun at the floor before I pointed it at my thigh.

[steplock]

The biggest question ....

What the HELL was he doing bringing in a LOADED Gun into a school??

[dead]

Witnesses said the gun was pointed at the floor and when he released the slide, one shot fired into the top of his left thigh.

"The kids screamed and started to cry," said Vivian Farmer, who attended the presentation with her 13-year-old nephew.

I’m a really bad person, but I think the whole scene would have left me hysterically rolling on the floor. The bloody leg, the profanities, the screaming kids, the gun safety aspect.

That’s why my wife has to take my kids to “serious” events.

[archy]

Nixon really gave us a gem when he handed us the DEA. They've had at least one agent I'm aware of killed by his own negligent firearms handling, though they're unfortunately not the worst in the federal galaxy.

[Mr.Atos]

Folks, We have a 2004 Darwin award winner.

With due respect, my sympathies to the families of the officer and the children. He might very well have been a good man... in the wrong job.

[OXENinFLA]

This is about as bad as the cop leaving his AR-15 on the side of the road after forgetting to put it back after changing a tire.

[Moose4]

I'm a total ignoramus about guns (only ever been shooting once, and that was with a friend's .38 revolver), so help me here...if he removed the magazine and pulled back the slide, shouldn't that have cleared the round that would've been chambered? And is it normal for the gun to go off if he let the slide go back forward too quickly?

And I am still allowed on FR if I don't know the answers to these questions already? :)

}:-)4

[theFIRMbss]

>Police ruled the shooting was an accident, but the DEA headquarters in Washington was still investigating, Kilmer said.

The bullet really
was fired from a grassy knoll
outside the class room . . .