Shopper hit when his gun goes off

The Advocate ^ | 10-29-2002

[Cagey]

GONZALES -- A man trying on pants at the Tanger Outlet Center accidentally shot himself in the right leg when a .38-caliber derringer fell out of his hip pocket and discharged, Police Chief Bill Landry said Monday.

Robert E. Slay Sr., 55, 11941 Parkland Drive, Lafayette, was treated at St. Elizabeth Hospital and then booked with illegally carrying a weapon, illegally discharging a firearm and simple criminal damage to property.

Slay was removing his pants to try on a pair of slacks when the weapon fell out of a rear pocket, struck the floor and discharged, with the bullet striking Slay and entering a wall, Landry said.

Employees of VF Factory Outlet heard Slay scream, checked on him and called the police, Landry said.

Slay was released on a $5,000 bond.

[Cagey]

"Hold Muh Trousers Alert"

[HELLRAISER II]

That's better than a "my gun fell & accidentally blew off my balls, dumb ass alert" isn't it?

[Eaker]

Somebody will think that this has something to do with responsible gun owners who carry safely and legally. Just wait.

Eaker

[tracer]

"Gumbo-and-Gun Alert".....

[archy]

Lafayette, Louisiana, for those who wondered. I've never been a real big fan of two-shot Derringers, but they seem to be more common down that way than in some places I've been.

The old Hi-standard double-action versions used to be an issue item with the LA Highway Patrol, who often carried theirs in a boot top. They at least couldn't fall on their hammer, and go off, as happened to this goof.

I recall that Lee Harvey Oswald had a similar incident while a young Marine, and he too was a Louisiana boy. Perhaps it's something in the water thereabouts.

-archy-/-

[ladtx]

Robert E. Slay Sr., 55, 11941 Parkland Drive, Lafayette, was treated at St. Elizabeth Hospital...

That doesn't look right.

Barney Fife, 55, 11941 Parkland Drive, Lafayette, was treated at St. Elizabeth Hospital...

There that looks correct.

[Lion Den Dan]

What did I say last week about deringers? They can surely bite and for the money there are better options.

[niteowl77]

Some derringers are notorious for being pointed right up at you when they hit the floor after falling out of your pocket- it's a center of gravity thing. I still toy with the idea of getting a derringer, but the new small semiautos are making it less likely to happen.

[70times7]

No, Barney kept the one bullet he had in his breast pocket.

[Charles Martel]

Not Lafayette... that's west of Baton Rouge on I-10. The Tanger Outlet Mall is in Gonzales, south and a bit east of Baton Rouge on the I-10 loop down towards New Orleans.

FWIW, the Ascension Parish Sheriff has one heck of a rifle and pistol range not five minutes from the Tanger Mall - I've helped out with a few Garand Clinics at the facility.

I have never trusted those stackbarrel derringers, either.

[Cagey]

FYI

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

accidentally shot himself ...

No gun control goin' on around there...

[talleyman]

"I'm okay - let me try on the other pair..." Blam! "Doh!"

[TexasRepublic]

Hold muh gun alert!

[SLB]

BTTT

[2timothy3.16]

Robert E. Slay Sr., 55, 11941 Parkland Drive, Lafayette, was treated at St. Elizabeth Hospital and then booked with illegally carrying a weapon, illegally discharging a firearm and simple criminal damage to property.

And how about:

Robert E. Slay Sr., 55, 11941 Parkland Drive, Lafayette, was treated at St. Elizabeth Hospital and then booked with illegally carrying a weapon, illegally discharging a firearm and simple criminal damage to property, and being really really stupid.