PORTER: Man injured by accidental gunshot

Local News

July 2, 2009

Retired officer shoots himself in the thigh

Staff Reports The Niagara Gazette Thu Jul 02, 2009, 04:54 PM EDT

A retired law enforcement officer was injured when he accidentally shot himself in the thigh.

The incident happened at the New York State National Guard firing range on Balmer Road about 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Retired law enforcement officer Edward F. Christian, 61, of Buffalo, was at the range with several other retired officers to qualify under the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Service, Municipal Training Council, the report said.

Christian had just completed the course with a Rugar 22LR pistol when he attempted to holster the weapon.

As he was holstering the pistol, it went off, and a round struck him in the left thigh, the report said.

The round went through the thigh and exited a few inches from the entry point.

Christian was transported to Mount St. Mary’s Hospital by two other retired officers.

Sheriff’s deputies met Christian at the hospital, where emergency room staff told him the gunshot wound was not serious or life-threatening.

Christian had a current and valid pistol permit from Erie County, and the pistol belonged to one of the other retired officers, the report said.

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