[P8riot]

A 1911 should not fire unless the thumb safety is off and the grip safety depressed prior to squeezing the trigger. Unless the MRI unit released these safeties, or the gun was in an unsafe condition; either worn parts or kept unlocked with the hammer down on a chambered round, or a combination of both, I don’t see how this could happen.

[CrazyIvan]

A 1911 should not fire unless the thumb safety is off and the grip safety depressed prior to squeezing the trigger. Unless the MRI unit released these safeties, or the gun was in an unsafe condition; either worn parts or kept unlocked with the hammer down on a chambered round, or a combination of both, I don’t see how this could happen.

I think that inertia could move the firing pin forward with enough force if the gun impacted muzzle first. Anyone else want to weigh in on this? I know I’m going to check out my
1911 when I get home and see if this is possible. (No, I’m not going to throw it against the wall to find out!)

[AnAmericanMother]

I also smell a rat.

There's a grip safety AND a thumb safety. The grip safety, IIRC, is plastic or aluminum. I don't see how the MRI could simultaneously release the grip AND the thumb safety, AND cause the firing pin to move forward. All these moving parts are in different places and move in different directions . . . .

My guess is that either he had the hammer down on a round (very unsafe and unnecessary) and the hammer struck the primer when the pistol hit the wall of the MRI, or he just had an AD while fumbling with his pistol and is blaming it on the MRI.

I don't have my 1911A1 on me, so I don't remember if it has a hammer block like my Sig or my little Walther. But I think having the hammer down would bypass it even if it did have one.

[wrench]

A 1911 should not fire unless the thumb safety is off and the grip safety depressed prior to squeezing the trigger. Unless the MRI unit released these safeties, or the gun was in an unsafe condition; either worn parts or kept unlocked with the hammer down on a chambered round, or a combination of both, I don’t see how this could happen.................................................................. The 1911 can and will shear the cock notch off the hammer if the hammer is struck with sufficient force while cocked (locked or not). The safety does not block the hammer, it only keeps the sear locked into the cock notch of the hammer. The hald cock notck will shear off as well.

[M1928A1 Thompson]

The gun fired because it slammed into the MRI machine with enough force that inertia overcame the firing pin spring and the pin hit the primer with enough force to make it fire. Having seen the rest of this report and pictures, when the gun was retrieved the safety was still on, LOCKING the slide forward and the EMPTY case was not ejected from the pistol. The hammer was still at full cock. My shooting buddy is a radiologist and this was big news last year when he showed the account of the incident.

The series 80 Colts have a firing pin lock that is supposed to prevent this freakish sort of slamfire.