Man Injured by Malfunctioning Firearm during Domestic Argument

On November 24, 2019 at approximately 6:30PM the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a shooting in western Vanderburgh County. 

The Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a residence in the 5600 block of New Harmony Road after a female called 911 and claimed she had shot her husband following an argument.  The caller advised dispatchers that she shot her husband in the chest. Arriving deputies located both the suspected shooter and the victim.

The victim was found to have sustained only superficial injuries and not a penetrating chest wound as initially reported. Medical personnel treated the victim at the scene and both subjects were transported to the Sheriffs’ Office Operations Center for interviews.

A search warrant was obtained for the residence. The subsequent crime scene investigation and interview of both parties led to the conclusion that the injury was accidental. The gun discharged as it was being handed to the wife by the husband. The injury sustained by the husband was the result of the weapon malfunctioning during discharge and not from a bullet. A piece of the gun broke off and struck the husband in the chest.

Both husband and wife were released following the investigation and agreed to separate for the evening.

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