Bad day for shooting

[kumbaugh]

my wife and I went to an indoor range for some target practice today. my wife was on lane 1, I was on lane 2 and another guy on lane 3.

the guy on lane 3 had his target hanging on a 45 degree angle. after he paused to reload I went over and tapped his shoulder and showed his how to hang his target straight. He was shooting pretty good and keep to himself.

He fired a few more times and for some reason his gun seemed louder than a 9mm. I was shooting my 45 and his rounds sound louder. I turned on my electronic muffs hoping to cut back on the noise. He fired another shoot and I heard him say ouch, not very loud or screaming. I was still shooting my wife taps me on the shoulder and pointed to the floor and said he shot himself. I ran out of the range to get help and have them call 911, The range employees stopped when I screamed the guy next to me shot himself and to call 911. They did a good job IMO, performing first aide, the police and paramedics arrived and took the guy to the hospital. He told everyone at the range he shot himself at the hospital he told them he was cleaning his gun when it went off.

the bullet entered his chest just above his heart and missed his lung. His suicide attempt failed. The range cameras showed him standing still for about 30 seconds and taking a few deep breaths putting the gun to his chest and pulling the trigger.

We found out later the bullet exited throught his back, hit the bullet proof glass, off the wall and hit the floor in lane 1. My wife was shooting in lane 1 and it hit between her legs.

Today was our lucky day and we will be back on the range soon.

 

[blkcheech]

Wow. Really glad your wife did not get hurt!

 

[GabbyDP]

Wow! What a scary event to experience, I'm very glad to hear no one else at the range was injured. Hopefully he will have a full recovery and get the assistance that he needs. +1 to yourself and everyone who responded in a time efficient and appropriate manner.

 

[Deserteagle]

Good thing he wasn't trying to take others with him. Geeze. I do not like shooting ranges, this adds to my list of stupid things people have done at ranges. I hope the police realize it was a suicide attempt and get him some help before he hurts himself again, or others.

 

[che]

Maaan! What a story. Talk about dodging a bullet. I'm glad that you and your wife are safe. You know, sometimes scenarios like that go off in my mind and when I have an obviously new shooter next to me at the range I go into code red mode. Sometimes so much so that I can't enjoy my shooting time because I'm so preoccupied with what mistakes my neighbor is going to make.

 

[trophyhunter]

Kumbaugh,
I'm glad you, or wife did not get hurt. I really dont know why someone would go to an shooting range, and then try to kill themselves.

Maybe he really did not want to kill himself.Most suicide attempts, the shooter puts the weapon to thier head.

Maybe he just wanted help.I can safely say, he needs help.I hope they take his CCW permit if he has one. He put you, and your wife in Harms way.

Someone like that, should not be aloud to Carry,Posses any weapons. Hopefully the poor guy will now get the help he needs.

Anyways,Im glad both you, and your Wife did not get hurt. That has to be hard on you, and your wife Emotionally to have Witness that. Thanks for sharing that Information.

It goes to show you, that you never know when someone will flip out.Just think if he wanted to take someone with him.Scarry, very scarry.

 

[kumbaugh]

Good thing he wasn't trying to take others with him. Geeze. I do not like shooting ranges, this adds to my list of stupid things people have done at ranges. I hope the police realize it was a suicide attempt and get him some help before he hurts himself again, or others.

before the police entered they range they said most likely a suicide attemp.

 

[Keykutter]

Wow! Bad day indeed! Glad you two weren't part of the plan, or maybe you were and he wasn't really looking to die.

One more thing to add to your prayers.

KK

 

[tuts40]

Holy flipp'n crap, glad you are both alright. I realize it may take awhile for the psychological healing though. Sorry you had to experience that.

If someone's gunna take himself out, how about pills/booze and car exhaust? Don't need any more fuel for those looking for gun demonization...

 

[KCD1974]

WOW...nice work on your part...luckily he didn't decide to take anyone with him....Scary....

 

[Kasper]

So did you find out what type of 9mm rounds he was shooting?

 

[HootmonSccy]

Kumbaugh,
Most suicide attempts, the shooter puts the weapon to their head.

Glad it turned out to be just a story for you and not a bad incident..

The thought above is what I thought of.. Glad he didn't put the gun to his right temple and pull the trigger... It may have taken you and your wife out..

 

[Firefighterchen]

Maybe he really did not want to kill himself.Most suicide attempts, the shooter puts the weapon to thier head.

From personal experience, most suicide [U[attempts[/U] they don't put the gun to their head, because those usually aren't attempts, they are successful. Even when we are depressed enough to want to kill ourselves, the body has a natural reaction to want to stay alive. I remember the gun shot wound/psychiatric portion of my paramedic, having to look at dozens of peoples faces missing because they pulled the shotgun away from their chin just enough to do damage but not kill. Also, most suicides don't involve anyone else. I am glad this incident was not like the few that go out with as many people as possible. I hope your wife is doing well.

This reminds me of a story when I was just an EMT working early mornings...maybe I will post up a "what would you do?" post to see what everyone would of done.

 

[aj's 40 cal]

wow, im glad you and the wife are ok and he gets the help he truly needs.

stay safe~

 

[sassedbygov]

Your wife is blessed. Don't forget to thank G-d.

I'm also very relieved he was not interested in aggressively taking others with him, but who knows if that wasn't his original intention.

 

[Nightmare45]

Had a friend of mine worked for lighthouse for the blind for years about three folks a year placed the gun to their temple and pulled trigger, bullet passed below the brain case and blew out both optic nerves leaving them blind and not dead.

 

[Tucker's Mom]

I will say that your title is wrong -- it should be : Our lucky day on the range. Glad you and your wife are OK.

 

[twotonevert]

Wow, that sucks. There was a guy that killed himself at our range a few weeks ago. At least he had the decency to wait till everyone else left the line and all doors were closed. He even had a note apologizing to the range. That kind of stuff freaks me out.

 

[rifleshooter474]

Wow, that sucks. There was a guy that killed himself at our range a few weeks ago. At least he had the decency to wait till everyone else left the line and all doors were closed. He even had a note apologizing to the range. That kind of stuff freaks me out.

That was the second time someone killed himself at the Tulsa Firearms in Tulsa OK, really bad for everyone.
The new Tulsa indoor range 2A on Admiral have video to keep track of any unsafe items, but everyone must be on guard as you just don't know how safe the people shooting near you really are.
2A is a really super indoor range nothing even close to it in Oklahoma.
I like the new outdoor range the USSHOOTINGACADEMY out north of Tulsa also, being outdoor I feel a lot better because more space between shooters.
Also you can see whats going on around you a lot better.
They have people driving around making sure things are being done safely.

 

[JohnLM]

WOW!! Talk about a close call. Don't know what be going on in some peoples minds.