Three people were wounded, not killed.
Two men attempted to wrestle a gun away from a very angry third man they did not know.
The gun fired once in the struggle.
One man received a powder burn on his face plus a nasal cavity wound.
Two bystanders were also struck by the same bullet, but their wounds were not life threatening.
The owner of the gun did in fact have a concealed weapon permit from Snohomish County, which is north of Seattle, and much more rural.
After the incident it was discovered that the 22 year old gun owner had been in methadone treatment for the last four years, was taking medication for anxiety and schizophrenia, had an extensive juvenile record for petty crimes, and had multiple traffic arrests.
Apparently, none of those things, alone or together, automatically disqualify someone for gun ownership or a CWP in the state of Washington.
Personally, I found that to be shocking, even though I support private ownership and CWP.
The shooter pleaded guilty in August to an assault charge, was sentenced to 90 days, and his CWP was revoked.
Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
I should have read through to your post. I’m glad the two guys were there to disarm the third. This is the first time I can remember hearing about a legal permit holder committing a crime!
“Two men attempted to wrestle a gun away from a very angry third man they did not know.
The gun fired once in the struggle.”
“The man police say brought a loaded gun to the Folklife Festival at Seattle Center and accidentallly shot two people will serve no further jailtime.
Clinton Chad Grainger, 22, pled guilty to two counts of third-degree assault and was released after time-served, a total of 78 days.
Grainger apparently brought the gun to the festival and, after becoming engaged in an altercation with another man, had the gun go off twice, shooting one bystander in the hand and one in the leg.
The judge ultimately decided that Grainger’s actions were incredibly stupid, but that he was not guilty of the second-degree assault charge he previously faced.
Another aspect that came out of the court decision was that, contrary to previous reports, Grainger was in no way mentally ill and was perfectly qualified to carry the gun. How you misdiagnose schizophrenia is past me, but then again, I'm not a doctor.
Originally the case prompted Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels to propose a ban on concealed weapons in city parks and facilities, but, true to his incompetent nature, nothing has happened with that proposal and nothing ever will.”
Here is the link:
http://www.examiner.com/x-257-Seattle-Crime-Examiner~topic18208-folklife-shooting
“A Snohomish man charged in the shooting of two people at the Northwest Folklife Festival won't see further jail time for the incident.
Clinton Chad Grainger, who spent 78 days in jail following the May 24 shooting, was sentenced to time served Friday after pleading guilty to two counts of third-degree assault.
Grainger had initially faced a more serious second-degree assault charge, which could have carried a nearly four-year prison term. Prosecutors reduced the charges as part of a plea deal, granted in part because the shooting did not appear to have been intentional.
In King County Superior Court, Grainger’s attorney, Kearney Lee Hammer, told Judge Michael Trickey his client was “criminally negligent” to bring a loaded pistol to the Seattle Center festival. But Hammer disputed initial police accounts of the altercation.
Grainger had become involved in a scuffle with an acquaintance at the festival, Hammer said. The second man lunged for a holster holding the weapon on Grainger’s ankle in an attempt to seize the gun and use it against Grainger.
The Glock pistol, Hammer said, discharged as the men wrestled with the gun. The round penetrated a man's wrist before lodging in a woman's leg. Neither victim was involved in the altercation.
“For people who think they need a gun in a public place, they should have second thoughts,” Hammer told Trickey.
“No kidding,” the judge answered, without humor.
After an apology from Grainger, Trickey called the 22-year-old’s decision to bring a gun to a crowded public gathering “a colossal lapse of judgment.”
Trickey then followed the agreed sentencing recommendation and placed Grainger on two years of community supervision. Grainger was also ordered to continue treatment for heroin addiction.
At the hearing, Hammer disputed news reports that Grainger suffers from schizophrenia and should not have been issued the concealed pistol license he carried. Despite earlier statements to the contrary, prosecutors did not offer any evidence Friday that Grainger suffers from the mental illness.
“He has never had any schizophrenia,” Hammer said. “He was legally qualified to possess a firearm.”
The conviction, however, bars Grainger from carrying a gun in the future.
The shooting prompted an effort by Mayor Greg Nickels to ban concealed firearms from city parks and facilities. The prohibition has not been enacted and no change in the law is before the City Council.”
Here is the link: