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Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 6:05 am
by treadlightly
http://www.kwtx.com/content/news/381265871.html
MARLIN, Texas (KWTX) A local officer who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg was injured when his weapon discharged as he ran to assist with an arrest, not as he was drawing the gun as initially reported, Marlin police Chief Damien Eaglin said Monday.

“The weapon that discharged while it was on his person (and) was never drawn out,” he said.

The wounded officer, whose name was not released, was recovering at home Monday after he was wounded during a large gathering Sunday night at Martin Luther King, Jr., Park in Marlin.

Eaglin said the officer was running to assist him with the arrest of a suspect wanted after shots were fired the night before in the park when the weapon discharged.

After the officer’s gun discharged, things took a turn at the park.
Initial reports said the gun discharged while the officer was drawing it. New reports say he was running and his gun went off. A quote on the news said it was a secondary weapon. No idea the method of carry or how it was holstered.

Take-aways for me based on very incomplete information, yours may vary: There are times when the four big rules need particular respect. A holstered gun may not be pointing at any part of my body, but I remain cognizant of the damage muzzle blast can do. I try not to sit in any way that puts my feet downwind of my muzzle. A holster should enshroud the trigger, protect any manual safety device, and have enough purchase on the gun I could ignore it when running. And, of course, even though my handgun is not an obsession I never ignore anything that has anything to do with the safe carry of a firearm.

I wish they would release more information about the holster and method of carry so we can all learn. Best wishes for the officer's quick recovery.

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 7:35 am
by ScottDLS
Was it a Glock? :evil2:

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 8:24 am
by joe817
ScottDLS wrote:Was it a Glock? :evil2:
My immediate thought as well. :cheers2:

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 8:33 am
by treadlightly
Reliable sources suggest more information will be released shortly.

I share certain prejudices, Scott. :biggrinjester: I don't mind the Glock's short trigger pull, I have far shorter trigger action in my 1911's. It's the combination of short pull and no separate safety that worries me about that design.

'Course, I'm a hypocrite. I sometimes carry a Sig P320 which doesn't even have the trigger blade.

I think the key to unventilated happiness with any gun is the four big rules plus procedure. Handle a gun in a safe way, the same way, every time. Picking up a pistol by the slide like a youtube star? Not the best. Establish a safe commanding grip, every time, and program your trigger finger to stay rigid enough not to enter the trigger guard.

When the first report said the gun went off as he was drawing it, I wondered if it weren't the unholy trinity of Glock/Serpa/Fence-jumping booger hook. That doesn't seem to be the case.

I hope the Marlin PD releases enough information so lawful gun carriers can learn what went wrong, and, of course, best wishes for the officer's speedy recovery. I believe he was just trying to do yet another good deed for the day.

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 9:22 am
by ScottDLS
I suspect going off during draw is most likely. I have trouble believing even a Glock would shoot by itself in the holster.

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 9:44 am
by Liberty
ScottDLS wrote:I suspect going off during draw is most likely. I have trouble believing even a Glock would shoot by itself in the holster.
This was a bug. I suspect that the discharge was caused by the gun bouncing around the holster and getting snagged on something. We will probably never know.

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 11:02 am
by suthdj
Defective booger hook, and lame excuses to save face. JMHO

Ok seems my opinion was wrong :totap:

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 12:57 pm
by rotor
Latest...
The gun that discharged was a derringer that was strapped to the officer's leg.

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 1:06 pm
by ScottDLS
rotor wrote:Latest...
The gun that discharged was a derringer that was strapped to the officer's leg.

What? You mean it wasn't the department issue Lorcin .25 auto that all the other cops carry? "rlol"

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 1:39 pm
by JustSomeOldGuy
Seriously? A derringer? OMG! Will somebody PLEASE buy that man a J-frame?!

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 1:58 pm
by Pawpaw
If it truly was a derringer, he must not have had the crossbar safety engaged. That is a recipe for disaster if something hits the hammer.

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 2:42 pm
by Jusme
JustSomeOldGuy wrote:Seriously? A derringer? OMG! Will somebody PLEASE buy that man a J-frame?!

I'll bet his department will have a talk with him. We weren't allowed to carry a BUG or off duty gun that we couldn't qualify with. There is no way he could qualify with a two shot derringer. All of our runs consisted of at least five round strings. unless he is a lot faster at reloading one than I have ever seen anyone do, he wouldn't be able to do it. It will depend on department policy though.

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 4:58 pm
by Countryside
Marlin....uhhh....no comment.

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 5:24 pm
by treadlightly
Derringer? Sounds like a poor choice for police work. Even if it's an expensive derringer, too easy for it to be misinterpreted as a drop gun.

Marlin is a troubled town. Hijinks in their water department, the schools, city hall is probably corrupt. Glad I don't live there.

Re: Another mystery discharge

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 5:32 pm
by flintknapper
Pawpaw wrote:If it truly was a derringer, he must not have had the crossbar safety engaged. That is a recipe for disaster if something hits the hammer.
Yep.

That...and most Derringers lack a trigger guard.

Maybe there will be more details on this at a latter date.

Can't fault the officer for carrying a BUG, but a derringer might not be the best choice.