Updated
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Two people were shot when a man holstering his pistol outside a Chehalis retailer apparently caused it to discharge today.
Police and aid were called about 1:45 p.m. to the parking lot at Sunbird Shopping Center on the 1700 block of North National Avenue.
The preliminary investigation indicates a gentleman had just purchased a new holster and was putting his gun inside it, Chehalis Police Department Deputy Chief Randy Kaut said.
“It accidentally discharged and went through his other hand and (into) his wife’s leg,” Kaut said.
Kaut said he understood the man was standing next to his truck and his wife was seated inside.
Both were taken by ambulance to Providence Centralia Hospital. Chehalis Fire Department Capt. Casey Beck said the injuries appeared to be non-life threatening.
The couple are in their 40s and from the Centralia-Rochester area, according to police.
Detective Sgt. Gary Wilson said the 9 mm bullet was lodged in the woman’s thigh, and seems to have broken her leg.
She was transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for surgery, he said.
Wilson said he’s assuming the husband had his finger on the trigger.
While it appears to be an accident, it came out of ignoring basic firearm safety rules, according to Wilson.
No one should be handling a loaded firearm in a public place like a busy parking lot, nor should they ever point a gun at something they don’t intend to shoot, he said.
“You just don’t do these things; you shouldn’t,” he said. “I’m not here to pass judgement. It is what it is.”
Wilson said he planned to let the couple “get fixed up” before he takes a look at any possible violations of the law.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
The gene pool is getting thinned out down there..
Oh, their from Rochester. That explains it.
I know I feel alot safer with this guy carrying in public.
Why are all the Main Stream Media Outlets that Demonize the second amendment “Not” using this as an example to weaken America? This could be an Example on Piers Morgan for all the UN gun grabbers
She is still recovering. Oh boy this one will never get lived down.
Even still, she would deserve “Divorcee of the Year Award” in my book.
Woman deserves “Wife of the Year Award” for 2013. That is if she doesn’t kick his dumb ass to the curb!
!!WOW!!
That’s a close one! Very thankful everybody lived through that. I’m betting someone has a much higher appreciation for gun safety than they did yesterday.
Ooops! “Sorry sweetie!”