Family finds Houston officer shot to death -(Cleaning guns)

[Lucky45]

Family finds Houston officer shot to death
Gun-cleaning equipment, other weapons suggest a 'tragic accident'

By MIKE GLENN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

A veteran Houston police officer was discovered dead in his southwest Houston home Sunday morning, likely from a gunshot wound he received while cleaning a weapon, police said.

The officer, who has not been identified, was discovered by his family about 11 a.m. in the kitchen of the home in the 11000 block of Wainfleet, police said.

"There are multiple weapons, cleaning equipment and so forth all laid out on a kitchen table where the officer was found," said Sgt. Nate McDuell, Houston Police Department spokesman.

There were no signs of a break-in at the house, which was surrounded by yellow crime scene tape most of the day.

"The indications are that the officer was by himself at the time of the shooting," McDuell said. "It's a possibility that this could be just a tragic accident."

The officer had been with the department for more than 20 years and was soon expected to be transferred to HPD's homicide division, officials said.

"He was a very well-liked officer. He had many friends on the force," McDuell said. "Everyone is just really saddened by the events of today."

Police blocked access to the street. A neighbor said the officer had finished up a term earlier this year as president of the local homeowners' association.

"He was a great person. I'm in shock," neighbor Adrian Porter said. "I'm at a loss for words. I just can't believe this."

If the ongoing investigation confirms that the death was an accident, McDuell said it should serve as a warning of the dangers of firearms — even for the most-experienced users.
"We handle weapons on a day-to-day basis," he said. "Even a veteran officer such as this can be victimized by what is apparently a tragic accident."

In 2004, 649 people in the U.S. died from unintentional gun injuries — accounting for about 2.2 percent of all firearm deaths, according to the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A study from 1998 showed that 72 percent of accidental, non-fatal gunshot injuries were self-inflicted.

An analysis published by the Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that such accidents most often occurred during activities like cleaning, loading and unloading weapons.

Staff writer Carolyn Feibel contributed to this report.

mike.glenn@chron.com

This is why you must always follow the safety rules when handling a firearm.

[AFJailor]

I have never understood how these things happen, I can understand a ND in the situation...but I dont understand how you could shoot yourself.

Nevertheless I truly feel sad for the family and I hope they can cope with their loss.

[frankie_the_yankee]

Possible suicide?

[seamusTX]

Possible suicide?

The evidence points to suicide, but was it intentional?

People who commit suicide either try to make a statement or try to cover it up.

Sad business, all-round.

- Jim

[Photoman]

Highly likely a suicide. Sad indeed.

[AEA]

It could be much more than a suicide................

The story said he was a 20 year Veteran with HPD. That means that during these years his testimony has most likely put a lot of BG's behind bars. Could be a "Pay Back" by either an individual or gang, timed to coincide with his gun cleaning or staged.

It could really be any number of things, including domestic.

An initial report by a Reporter is hardly the basis for a conclusion.

We will just have to wait for the end of the investigation to know the actual cause of his death.

Whatever the cause, I agree it is truly sad. He was at the top of his career.

[HighVelocity]

The only thing worse than accidentally shooting yourself due to carelessness would be if that same bullet struck someone else. This was totally preventable and very sad indeed.

[carlson1]

The only thing worse than accidentally shooting yourself due to carelessness would be if that same bullet struck someone else. This was totally preventable and very sad indeed.

[stevie_d_64]

The local news this morning would not do anything in detailing the situation other than what we have been given already...

They did mention he was involved in a shooting incident where he had to defend himself with the use of deadly force last year...I vaguely remember that, and the attention that incident brought upon him and the department...There were questions obviously raised (by the ignorant media) about the justification of deadly force in that shooting...

There could have been some external psychological stressers put upon him that could have brought about some negative thoughts...But that is only speculation on my part...

But that is tempered by that mentioning that he had a lot of his firearms out and was cleaning them...

If someone was intending to kill themselves, I'm not sure going through a routine like that, and having all that hardware out would bring about any final though of suicide...Thinking it only takes one gun and one round to get it done I suppose...If you have made up your mind to do so...

So I am still leaning toward this being an unfortunate accident...

We'll have to wait and see...

[Keith B]

But that is tempered by that mentioning that he had a lot of his firearms out and was cleaning them...

If someone was intending to kill themselves, I'm not sure going through a routine like that, and having all that hardware out would bring about any final though of suicide...Thinking it only takes one gun and one round to get it done I suppose...If you have made up your mind to do so...

So I am still leaning toward this being an unfortunate accident...

We'll have to wait and see...

However, if an individual who has a very through background in crime scene investigation wanted to make sure it looked like an accident, they may go through the extra length to orchestrate the AD while cleaning scenario.

The main reason would be that life insurance many times does not pay for sucide, but will for accidental shooting. If it looks like an AD, then the insurance has a harder time fighting the claim it if there is no evidence to the contrary.

There is also a stigma that can be associated with suicide that can put shame on a family, so it looks better as an AD, instead of the person being emotionally unstable.

Either way I am sure the family is grieving and they need to be in our thoughts and prayers.

[jbirds1210]

I promise you folks that the Houston Chronicle is not going to have a very detailed description of any death scene in Harris County.

I would be very very careful about any conclusions I came to because of said information....it very well could be poor firearm handling and an accident. I am glad that nobody else was injured.

I hope that we can all take a few minutes in silence this morning and say a prayer for his family.

Jason

[stevie_d_64]

But that is tempered by that mentioning that he had a lot of his firearms out and was cleaning them...

If someone was intending to kill themselves, I'm not sure going through a routine like that, and having all that hardware out would bring about any final though of suicide...Thinking it only takes one gun and one round to get it done I suppose...If you have made up your mind to do so...

So I am still leaning toward this being an unfortunate accident...

We'll have to wait and see...

However, if an individual who has a very through background in crime scene investigation wanted to make sure it looked like an accident, they may go through the extra length to orchestrate the AD while cleaning scenario.

The main reason would be that life insurance many times does not pay for sucide, but will for accidental shooting. If it looks like an AD, then the insurance has a harder time fighting the claim it if there is no evidence to the contrary.

There is also a stigma that can be associated with suicide that can put shame on a family, so it looks better as an AD, instead of the person being emotionally unstable.

Either way I am sure the family is grieving and they need to be in our thoughts and prayers.

Not that its because you agree with me, but you brought up a great point about the insurance side of the deal...

[seamusTX]

... you brought up a great point about the insurance side of the deal...

The insurance policies that I've read cover suicide after the policy has been in force for two years.

However, some policies pay double or triple for accidental death.

I would think this situation would be analyzed very closely to determine what happened. They could certainly tell if it was homicide versus a self-inflicted injury.

- Jim

[Trainman]

A lot of speculation toward this tragic death of one of the good guys.
Fact: Apparently he died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot. That gunshot logically was accidental or intentional.
All that has less relevance at this point.
The truly tragic fact is that he left behind a grieving family.
My heart and prayers go out to them.

[lawrnk]

Possible suicide?

I read this in the chronicle last night (though I hate the liberal rag)

When I saw the heading I thought it was a suicide then. Good way to cover up the suicide, and make sure insurance pays. What a shame.