NC: Soldier shot and wounded in hotel

[seamusTX]

In Raleigh, North Carolina, around 6:30 p.m. Saturday, a soldier from Ft. Bragg was shot and seriously injured in a hotel room.

The soldier was one of four soldiers in the room who were disarming before "going out for the evening" (presumably off duty).

It is not known whether the soldier was shot with his own weapon or one of the other soldiers'.

http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/news/sto ... eigh-hotel" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What kind of duty has four armed soldiers staying in a hotel 50 miles from base?

- Jim

[cbr600]

WRAL says they were in town for a bachelor party. http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/8427927/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[NOS]

He shot himself in the head while unloading his pistol? What ever happened to "Always point the gun in a safe direction"? Following standard gun safety could have prevented this incident and many others like it.

The main question that stands out to me the most...
How does one unload their pistol while simultaneously pointing it at their head?

[Pawpaw]

He shot himself in the head while unloading his pistol? What ever happened to "Always point the gun in a safe direction"? Following standard gun safety could have prevented this incident and many others like it.

The main question that stands out to me the most...
How does one unload their pistol while simultaneously pointing it at their head?

Front sight, front site, front site.

[dicion]

They should have used the 'cleaning' story instead... more people accept that these days

[The Annoyed Man]

He shot himself in the head while unloading his pistol?

Maybe he was looking down the barrel to make sure there wasn't a bean in the pipe.

[seamusTX]

I have never been in the military. It is my understanding that personnel are issued weapons only for specific assignments. So I ask again, is it conceivable that four soldiers would carrying government-issued weapons in this situation?

"Hey, Sarge, we're goin' into town for Tommy's bachelor party."
"OK. Have fun. Be sure to check M9s out of the armory before you go."

It is possible that the piece that discharged was personally owned.

This situation isn't funny, of course. Whatever went wrong, we should pray for the recovery of this injured soldier.

As to how someone shoots himself while unloading, I have seen some people go through pretty strange and dangerous gyrations trying to get the slide back. However, a trained soldier should be able to do it the right way without a second thought.

- Jim

[E.Marquez]

What kind of duty has four armed soldiers staying in a hotel 50 miles from base?

- Jim

I think what we will read about at some point is a group of soldiers that were not on duty at all, had legal, or not personal weapons, away from post for a weekend of clubbing and such. In NC "It shall be unlawful for a
person, with or without a permit, to carry a concealed handgun while consuming alcohol or at
any time while the person has remaining in his body any alcohol"

That means you disarm prior to going out to the club or privet party.

[E.Marquez]

I have never been in the military. It is my understanding that personnel are issued weapons only for specific assignments. So I ask again, is it conceivable that four soldiers would carrying government-issued weapons in this situation?

While anything is possible, most things are not likely.
No, that would not be normal, never seen it done that way intentionally by competent chain of command and NCO support channel. in 24 years.
That said... I can come up with a Wild ass guess / scenario that fits....and I've seen it happen minus the ND.

Reserve soldiers at weekend training.. they are done with the "mission for the day" live several hours away.. so stay in a hotel while at drill.. Want to save some time in the morning, and keep there weapons out...SO they can go straight from the hotel to the training site... Now you have Military issued pistols, Soldiers, Hotel, and and ND.
Still wrong, still against policy and regulation.. but I KNOW it has happened exactly like that, without the ND.

[E.Marquez]

Raleigh, N.C. — A 33-year-old Fort Bragg soldier accidentally shot himself in the head Saturday while staying at the Raleigh Marriott City Center hotel downtown, police said.

James Eugene Graham III was listed in critical condition Monday at WakeMed.

Graham was with three Army buddies and a Marine friend and was unloading his 9mm handgun at about 6:30 p.m. before going out for the evening when the weapon discharged, police said.

Police said the men were in Raleigh for a bachelor party, but they said there was no reason to suspect alcohol was involved in the incident

.

[Excaliber]

He shot himself in the head while unloading his pistol? What ever happened to "Always point the gun in a safe direction"? Following standard gun safety could have prevented this incident and many others like it.

The main question that stands out to me the most...
How does one unload their pistol while simultaneously pointing it at their head?

Front sight, front site, front site.

The story on how it happened sounds a lot like the result of a quick committee: "Oh - what are we going to tell the cops?"

[Grammy]

He shot himself in the head while unloading his pistol? What ever happened to "Always point the gun in a safe direction"? Following standard gun safety could have prevented this incident and many others like it.

The main question that stands out to me the most...
How does one unload their pistol while simultaneously pointing it at their head?

Front sight, front site, front site.

The story on how it happened sounds a lot like the result of a quick committee: "Oh - what are we going to tell the cops?"

Sounds just as you say, likely some horse play with that infamous "unloaded" weapon.
Jim

[duckhead]

a Marine