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Another Gun misfires, kills man

CHEVELLE427CHEVELLE427 Member Posts: 6,750
edited August 2008 in General Discussion
Weapon was still in its holster
Patrick Parkinson, Of the Record staff
Article Launched: 07/29/2008 05:34:41 PM MDT

GUNS BAD


A man was shot to death by his own gun in the Uinta Mountains when the pistol accidentally discharged, the authorities said.
The body of Salt Lake County resident Jon Klopfenstein, 55, was found in the Sulphur area of the forest July 12 at 7:29 p.m. He died from a single gunshot wound, investigators said.

"Initially, we thought it was a suicide," said Josh Wall, a spokesman for the Summit County Sheriff's Office. "The officers on scene, and the medical examiner from our office determined that this was actually an accidental discharge."

The 9 mm pistol involved in the shooting is a "cheap, junk gun" made in Israel, Wall explained.

The weapon discharged while strapped in its holster, he said.

"The gun gets hit on the hammer and discharges the round in the chamber," Wall said. "The bullet hit the guy in the belly from below."

The weapon might have struck the ground or exterior of the vehicle, Wall said.

"He fell outside the car, so we're thinking he is probably getting in or out of the car when this happens," he added. "The empty round was still in the chamber He could have been putting it in the car and it fell to the ground."

Nobody saw the shooting occur.

"Somebody just came across him laying there dead," Wall said, adding that officers do not suspect foul play. "This appears to be his gun and he was there alone, as far as we are aware."




http://www.parkrecord.com/county/ci_10034905

Comments

  • watrulookinatwatrulookinat Member Posts: 4,693
    edited November -1
    That Sukz. He must have died slow being shot in the belly.
  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,041 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would expect that someone can recreate the discharge before they rule this an accidential death.

    That would be standard police practice.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
  • glabrayglabray Member Posts: 679 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most of the accidental discharges of holstered duty weapons that I am aware of have resulted from one of these two conditions: (1) Entering or exiting a vehicle or (2) Holstering the weapon during training or qualification testing.
  • wlfmn323wlfmn323 Member Posts: 4,712
    edited November -1
    cheap pistol made in isreal?

    dint no such a varmint x isted!

    wonder what it was and what could have made it go off.
    i know if you dont have one in the chamber, a second or two to rack it could mean your life, but that is one of the reasons i am hesitant to carry any pistol without a hammer, cocked and ready.
  • CHEVELLE427CHEVELLE427 Member Posts: 6,750
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by wlfmn323
    cheap pistol made in isreal?

    dint no such a varmint x isted!

    wonder what it was and what could have made it go off.
    i know if you dont have one in the chamber, a second or two to rack it could mean your life, but that is one of the reasons i am hesitant to carry any pistol without a hammer, cocked and ready.


    i was wondering about that , i have a few made there and there not too cheeeeepppp,
  • brier-49brier-49 Member Posts: 7,023 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The empty round was still in the chamber?
  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,041 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by brier-49
    The empty round was still in the chamber?




    It wouldn't be able to cycle, if it were still in the holster. But I still think the police should try to recreate the discharge, before ruling this death accidental.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
  • mrseatlemrseatle Member Posts: 15,467 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Very Sushpishious. I too would like to know more about these cheap Isreali guns. I hope they are not refering to any IMI products[?]
  • CHEVELLE427CHEVELLE427 Member Posts: 6,750
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mrseatle
    Very Sushpishious. I too would like to know more about these cheap Isreali guns. I hope they are not refering to any IMI products[?]




    IF it was THE COP THAT MADE THE STATEMENT

    he most likley does not like IMI products as i cant think of any cheep junk made over there. at least i dont think of my IMI products as junk.
  • MEMPHISJOEMEMPHISJOE Member Posts: 185 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Alpine
    quote:Originally posted by brier-49
    The empty round was still in the chamber?




    It wouldn't be able to cycle, if it were still in the holster. But I still think the police should try to recreate the discharge, before ruling this death accidental.
    it may be able to cycle, if he was carry such a cheap pistol, the chances are he had a cheap holster
  • SW 357MagSW 357Mag Member Posts: 1,960 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Seems odd that it would hit above the waist while holstered.
  • riflemikeriflemike Member Posts: 10,599
    edited November -1
    Maybe a shoulder holster? A theory.
  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,183 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    He must have died slow being shot in the belly.

    It depends.
    If the bullet hit the big artery that goes down to the legs, he would have been unconscious in 60 seconds.

    A liver hit would kill pretty quickly, I am not sure, he would probably have 10 minutes to think it over on a liver hit.
  • wlfmn323wlfmn323 Member Posts: 4,712
    edited November -1
    the holstered pistol shooting the guy in the belly threw me off at first, then i considered it said the firearm was still holstered, it didnt say he was wearing the holster. guess he could have bumped it or dropped it, but i have tried to get guns to go off without a round in the chamber bump them and yes i know its a sin but i have dropped a couple. no release of hammer or fireing pin.

    still sounds kinda fishy
  • hillbillehillbille Member Posts: 14,119 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If it was a revolver, it wouldn't be hard to have an empty in the chamber. more likely to go off if hammer was hit, than a semi-auto.
  • SP45SP45 Member Posts: 1,758 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Need to know the make and model to even offer an opinion. Most unintended discharges are operator error however I just heard of a Karr that discharged while sittng on a night stand. Apparently it is a striker fired pistol and the safties are known to break which releases the striker and the pistol fires. Karr is aware of this. The police officer sent it back for repair and then immediately sold it. Good thing it was pointed away from the bed.
  • TxsTxs Member Posts: 18,801
    edited November -1
    All the confusion and questioning of this incident stems from crappy reporting by the media....again.
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