Crime & Safety

Accidental Weapon Discharge

The detective noted that the man was embarrassed about the incident.

Editor's Note: This article was posted by Erica Jackson and written by Brendan O'Reilly.

A Southampton Town Police Department detective responded to a Hampton Bays home on April 14 after a nurse at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead asked that police conduct a welfare check regarding a man who accidentally shot himself in the toe while cleaning a rifle the day before, according to an incident report.

The report states that the detective visited the home and interviewed the man, who legally owned the Ruger 10/22 rifle. The man said he was cleaning the rifle when it accidentally discharged into his big toe. When the rifle was pointed in a downward angle, inertia caused the firing pin to strike the primer, which caused the rifle to fire, according to the incident report.

The detective advised the man on safety techniques while cleaning his rifle. The detective noted that the man was pleasant and forthcoming about the incident, though embarrassed about it.


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