Fatal accident at California range

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http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=44711&catid=2

Man Shot, Killed in Modesto Shooting Range Accident

MODESTO, CA - A Modesto man was shot and killed Sunday during what investigators called a tragic accident at a Modesto trap shooting range, a Stanislaus County sheriff's spokesman said.

William Herrmann of Modesto was with a group of about 10 men preparing to do some trap shooting at the Fisherman's Club on Maze Avenue around 9:30 a.m., Stanislaus County sheriff's Dep. Tom Letras said.

Witnesses said while the men were unloaded their guns in the parking lot, an acquaintance of Herrmann's took out his shotgun when the weapon accidently went off, striking Herrmann in the back of the head.

Herrmann, 71, was airlifted to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Letras said investigators the shooting appeared to be just a tragic accident. Investigators found no evidence of foul play in the shooting and no arrests were made.

After the investigation, Letras said the results would be forwarded to the Stanislaus County District Attorney's office to determine whether any charges would be filed in the case.

http://cbs13.com/local/trap.shooting.accident.2.770287.html

Modesto Man Dies In Trap Shooting Accident

MODESTO (CBS13) ― A man was killed after a shotgun was fired accidentally in a Modesto parking lot, authorities said Sunday.

The incident took place in the parking lot of the Old Fisherman's Club early Sunday morning. A group of men who regularly conduct trap shooting at the club were in the parking lot, when one man's shotgun discharged while he was handling it.

William Herrmann, a Modesto resident, was struck in the back of the head. Medical personnel rushed him to a local hospital and pronounced him dead.

There were multiple witnesses to the shooting, and the Modesto Sheriff's Office says it appears to be an accident. No arrests have been made at this time.

Trap shooting is a form of competitive shooting where participants use shotguns to destroy clay targets, according to the Amateur Trapshooting Association's website.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
 
No one likes to hear of something like this. The good thing is that it has become so rare over the years. It may well be an accident as is reported, but it also looks like there is at least a failure to control muzzle direction. A reminder for all of us. fred
 
We as responsible members of the range should ensure that people at the range follow all safety rules strictly. I have seen some stupid people waving guns like toys at the range. After intervention, I found they are usually non-members or new members. We MUST control access and use of our shooting ranges to avoid similar incidents
 
"unloading in the parking lot????" since when should anyone be taking their loaded guns off the range and unloading them at the vehicles??
A whole pile of error there, and that inattention cost someone their life. NOT COOL.
All guns should be cleared and made safe before leaving the designated firing line. Those guys should have known better. Now there is one less of them. TOO SAD.
 
Unloading in the parking lot??? WTF? We unload on the shotgun range, one shell loaded for one shot to be taken before you call for your bird. Shotgun action open until shooting. Nuff said.
 
William Herrmann of Modesto was with a group of about 10 men preparing to do some trap shooting at the Fisherman's Club on Maze Avenue around 9:30 a.m., Stanislaus County sheriff's Dep. Tom Letras said.

Witnesses said while the men were unloaded their guns in the parking lot, an acquaintance of Herrmann's took out his shotgun when the weapon accidently went off, striking Herrmann in the back of the head.


I take it they were unloading their guns from the cars in the parking lot outside the range. This means someone brought a loaded gun in the car...
 
I think that the reporter just miswrote this.

By "Unloading" I think they mean UNPACKING.

ie this twit had a loaded gun in this car (unknowingly I hope). Pulled it out of the trunk and BLAMO!
 
I think we need these kind of "reminders" as a sort of wake up call.

I myself, have 37 years experiance in handling firearms. While I consider myself fairly "safe", I do realize that over time, even seasoned firearms folk become "complacent" and do at times tend to stray from safe practices.

An event such as this goes to show that we can "ALL" screw up and must always be concious of the fact that we can not call a projectile back once it has left the barrel.

Sometimes we forget, "... I think I did". Well if you are unsure whether you did or didn't, then do it again and make sure. I sometimes feel that a newbie is more security concious than some of us "seasoned" pro's.

Anyhow, a very sad and tragic event, which hopefully may serve as a wake up call to the rest of us.

Play safe!
 
Posted on Sun, Jul. 13, 2008
Modesto man killed in skeet shooting accident
last updated: July 13, 2008 08:46:50 PM

A 71-year-old man died Sunday morning at the Old Fishermen's Club of Modesto when a member of his skeet shooting group accidentally shot him in the head, authorities reported.

The man has been identified by the Stanislaus County coroner’s office as William Herrmann of Modesto. He was pronounced dead just after 11 a.m. Sunday.

The club, at 10800 Maze Blvd., is about nine miles west of Modesto on the San Joaquin River.

A group of club members had gone out for skeet shooting, said Lt. Mario Cisneros of the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department. It was about 9:30 a.m.

"A few of them were near their vehicles," he said. "One of the gentlemen accidentally touched his trigger and discharged his weapon."

The shooter's gun happened to be pointing toward people a few feet away, Cisneros said. He hit Herrmann in the head.

The victim was taken to a hospital by helicopter, Cisneros said.

No information was available about the shooter, Cisneros said, and no one will be arrested.

"This was truly an accident," he added.

Phil Brugger of Modesto, a past president of the Old Fishermen's Club, said he had heard of no other injuries or deaths at the club since it was established in 1920. Brugger is on the club's board of directors.

Brugger said he did not know Herrmann, who was not a club member. The shooter was a club member, he said. His name has not been released.

"I know him to be a very capable gentleman," Brugger said. "I'm sure the man is absolutely devastated."

The shooter has managed and run the club's skeet range for years, Brugger said.

The only place weapons are allowed at the club are at its trap and skeet ranges, he said. Hunting and other target practice are not allowed at the club. Shotguns are the only weapons allowed on its grounds.

The organization promotes sportsmanship, preservation of the environment and social activities for its nearly 800 members, all of whom are men, Brugger said.

"It's extremely sad when we lose someone. It's horrible," he said. "I'm still in a state of shock."

http://www.modbee.com/1623/story/359022.html
 
So the gun was loaded where it should not have been, the gun was pointed at another person and the shooter touched the trigger discharging the firearm killing another person.

The shooter should be charged with negligent homicide.
 
svt-40 said:
As his shot traveled from the hull to the skull 10 people in America died in the car accidents.
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Not likely but I understand the point you are trying to make.

And even so in any automotive death where one vehicle is operated in an extremely negligent fashion the driver is usually charged.
 
Griffoneur said:
I think we need these kind of "reminders" as a sort of wake up call....even seasoned firearms folk become "complacent" and do at times tend to stray from safe practices.
I sometimes feel that a newbie is more security concious than some of us "seasoned" pro's. Play safe!
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X2 for me on this one. In fact, I have been thinking about a situation at our club since seeing the first post about this incident. First you have to understand that I am the newbie in this case, and have only been shooting trap for about three months. At any rate, I have just taken over organizing the practices in our club. It is my responsibility to call the practices, do maintenance on the machines and do the setting up before the guys come. At any rate, the additional responsibility has made me look at things with new eyes and I have noticed two things. The first thing is that the trap used for doubles doesn't have a breakout switch. So, you have to wait carefully on the line while the person loading the trap reloads the doubles each time. You can't see him as he is in the trap house. I see too much hazard here because of the possibility of an accidental release from the line which could injure the loader. The second thing that struck me occurred when we were shooting skeet at number 7 station and a bird from the high house made an unusual turn back toward the group waiting to shoot. I don't know why this happened because there wasn't alot of wind, but the upshot was that the shotgun was moved too close to the waiting group in my opinion. No one said anything but I saw potential for an accident here. It was early in the game for me, however, and I said nothing :redface:. I think I will ask the members about safe lining up while shooting skeet during our next practice to see what they say. It's too late to discuss the particular incident. fred
 
I often see trap folks casually waving their unloaded guns in every which direction. Not a good practise to get accustomed to regardless of how clear you know your gun is.
 
This so-called accident is just wrong at so many levels.

Anyhow, I have called people on unsafe gun handling at the trap range and was basically told to F/O. Just last week I was swept by an open pump shotgun.
 
MauserMike said:
Anyhow, I have called people on unsafe gun handling at the trap range and was basically told to F/O.
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Don't let up on it. I came close to blows with a guy because he refused to open his shotgun when it was pointed at me in the parking lot. When he did open his gun reluctantly I spotted two brass case heads in the gun and thought for an instant the gun was loaded. This cheap f**ker owned a K80 and was driving a white Caddillac but used two cut down hulls as snap caps. I haven't seem him at our club since and thankfully he's not a member.

I will get seriously into someone's face if they don't respond to the polite request immediately. That may make me a "safety Nazi' to some people but they'll just have to live with it.
 
bisonhd said:
I often see trap folks casually waving their unloaded guns in every which direction. Not a good practise to get accustomed to regardless of how clear you know your gun is.
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Same here. Many clubs base their entire safety protocol on how many shells are loaded at each station. Thus if a firer takes two shots, everyone likes to assume the guns is unloaded and it gets waved about indiscriminately.
 
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