Hug Triggers Officer's Gun, Kills Woman

[JJVP]

A woman gave a hug to an off- duty officer during a dance and the officer's gun discharged killing her. Very weird.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/poli ... n-16737471" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AEA]

It was a S&W M&P .40.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120708/N ... discharges" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The weapon, a department-issued, 40-caliber Smith & Wesson semiautomatic pistol, was in a holster worn inside the officer’s waistband and was covered by his shirt, Goldpaugh said.

She musta' been on her knees to have been shot in the chest by a pistol in a IWB holster!

[RPB]

It was a S&W M&P .40.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120708/N ... discharges" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The weapon, a department-issued, 40-caliber Smith & Wesson semiautomatic pistol, was in a holster worn inside the officer’s waistband and was covered by his shirt, Goldpaugh said.

She musta' been on her knees to have been shot in the chest by a pistol in a IWB holster!

patrolman was hosting a party at his home and was dancing with his wife when the other woman came up behind him and tugged at his waist.

“And the gun went off,” Goldpaugh said. “It’s a fluke accidental shooting.”

The weapon, a department-issued, 40-caliber Smith & Wesson semiautomatic pistol, was in a holster worn inside the officer’s waistband and was covered by his shirt, Goldpaugh said.

Goldpaugh said the physical evidence from the incident corroborated the officer’s account of the shooting. The officer did not know the woman,

Wonder if his wife, with whom he was dancing at the time, knew the hubby did not know the deceased girl tugging at his waist ...

[Excaliber]

It was a S&W M&P .40.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120708/N ... discharges" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The weapon, a department-issued, 40-caliber Smith & Wesson semiautomatic pistol, was in a holster worn inside the officer’s waistband and was covered by his shirt, Goldpaugh said.

She musta' been on her knees to have been shot in the chest by a pistol in a IWB holster!

This story would be almost plausible if the gun had been carried in a shoulder holster with an uncovered trigger guard.

I'm having a hard time coming up with a scenario where a pistol carried IWB is discharged by a hug from behind and the projectile pierces the hugger's lung and heart, suggesting a side entry wound. The victim's torso should have been well above the muzzle of the pistol.

Either she was down really low as AEA suggests or the muzzle was somehow elevated to point at her torso, which is pretty hard to do with an IWB holstered gun. The victim's positioning which resulted in a side entry wound would have to be explained further for me to get this part as well.

If all the circumstances and statements are true as reported, I'm at a loss to put this all into one event sequence that makes believable sense.

[RPB]

jealous wife stops the other woman

[AEA]

I guess it's possible if he was carrying at 4 or 5 or 6 o'Clock and she was in a low position while trying to pull down his pants? Still seems like It would have to be a Shoulder entry to me.

Maybe a whatcha call it........at the 6 0'Clock? Oh....."Small of Back". Do they make those IWB? And she would have to be on the correct side of it (cant) to have been hit?

[Jumping Frog]

There is no doubt in my mind that alcohol was involved . . . .

Just sayin'

[C-dub]

Maybe she got Plaxxico'd. Maybe the gun shook loose from his belt and started to fall and he reached for it. IDK

The officer did not know the woman, who attended the party with other guests, Goldpaugh said.

What was a stranger doing tugging on another man's waist band? There's WAY more to this story not public yet or ever.

[Diesel42]

I don't know enough to give a definitive answer, but I can visualize a plausible explanation.
Guy is dancing with his wife. If it's a slow dance, chances are the wife's hands are above the man's hands. Thus, his waist is exposed.
If the decedent wrapped her arms around the man's waist, she could conceivably unholster his weapon. Maybe she felt the gun come up and grabbed it thinking it would hit the ground. Somehow, something pressed the bang switch.

I agree with the previous comment that alcohol was probably involved.
Sad.
Nick

[G.A. Heath]

Here's some scenarios I can add to the discussion for how it may have happened:
1: the tugging at his pants removed the pistol from the holster and then she was fumbling with it inside his shirt and that is how it happened.
2: Cheap holster, tugging at pants lifts and presses gun back into holster with part of the holster inside the trigger guard, discharging the weapon which ricocheted off the floor and into the deceased.

[MoJo]

One word - - - Detroit - - - The same city the retired police chief was robbed in his front yard and didn't have a gun.

[puma guy]

A woman gave a hug to an off- duty officer during a dance and the officer's gun discharged killing her. Very weird.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/poli ... n-16737471" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Weird, very, very weird

[LSL]

Easy explanation: It was a "Magic Bullet."

[Oldgringo]

Is nothing on TV tonight?

[C-dub]

Made it to the news this morning.