SFO Guardsman Shoots Self When Gun Misfires

Josey1

SFO Guardsman Shoots Self When Gun Misfires Email story to a friend SFO Guardsman Injured In Gun Misfire SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- There is disturbing news from San Francisco International Airport. KRON 4 has learned that a national guardsman was wounded when his gun accidentally discharged at the airport. It is the first such incident of its kind since the national guard began patroling airports in October. The incident happened last Friday night shortly after 11, at SFO. Fortunately, the wound was not life threatening and no one else was hit. Specialist Louis Alvarez and other members of the national guard were going off duty that Friday night. They gathered at the airport's courtyard number one outside the international terminal for a bus ride to their hotel. Alvarez, according to his superiors, was about to unload his 9-milimeter sidearm. Its a safety procedure that soldiers go through before leaving the airport. To make sure there's no live round in the chamber of a pistol, soldiers fire into a red barrel filled with sand - called a clearing barrel. Lt. Robert Paoletti explains the safety procedure: "They fire into the clearing barrel to drive home on an empty chamber to make sure the weapon is clear. We also have the non-commissioned officers inspect the chambers of the weapons to make sure they're clear to insure safety."But Alvarez apparently had difficulty removing his sidearm from the holster. There was also a live round in the chamber. Somehow, as he was struggling, the gun went off and the round hit him in the buttocks. Alvarez's superiors say the shooting was unfortunate. "He's a good soldier that had an accident. He is trained on the weapon. He is qualified in the weapon so it's an unfortunate thing," Lt. Paoletti says.The national guard has now launched a formal investigation to find out exactely why the accidental shooting happened. Soldiers are permitted to carry live ammunition, but normal operational protocol does not allow live rounds in the chambers unless the alert is upgraded. Did Alverez violate regulations by carrying his sidearm with a live round in the chamber?"I'm not at liberty to discuss what the actual reason for the accidental discharge was. Like I said, it's under a formal investigation. Hopefully we'll be able to come to some resolution," says Lt. Paoletti. Police were called immediately to the scene, but there was apparently some tense moments and confusion while police tried to piece together what happened. Airport sources tell KRON 4 that some officers thought, initially, that the soldier had been shot by a terrorist. Alvarez was taken to San Francisco General. He's now back at home recuperating from his wound. http://www.kron.com/Global/story.asp?S=606494&nav=5D7l63zm6Uhs

idsman75

I remember when we (at Ft. Lewis) first got Level III retention holsters with the trigger-guard locks. You had to rock the gun forward and then draw up. After about 15 minutes of practice it became swift and natural. It sounds like SPC Alvarez was carrying the gun with one in the chamber which was against SOP. Cowboy MP's will chamber a round in spite of potential inspections by supervisors. This is probably what happened in this case. He carried it with a round chambered and the Level III holster was something to which he was not accustomed. He broke the thumb snap which took it off "SAFE" (this motion took my M9 off safe every time) and then attempted to jerk it out of the holster not following the proper procedure to draw from a Level III. *BANG*[This message has been edited by idsman75 (edited 01-05-2002).]