BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (WLS) -- Police in Bolingbrook said two people are dead after a gun went off as its owner cleaned it Saturday evening.
Police said a preliminary investigation found 61-year-old Simeon Hendrickson was working on one of his guns inside his home in the 700-block of Dalton Lane Saturday around 5:45 p.m. when it accidentally discharged.
Story sounds like BS. Cleaning a gun and it discharged and killed his wife. Okay. Was she sitting across the table? Or maybe sitting in the next recliner. Either a combination of major stupidity and bad luck, or a murder/suicide.
I'm a forensic pathologist. Truly accidental fatal gunshot wounds from "cleaning a gun" are rare, but can happen if the decedent drops the gun before unloading or something like that. When we look at this, it's important to correlate the story with the gunshot wound direction. An injury from dropping the weapon will not be a contact wound, for instance. A lot of "accidental" wounds are not, except in children where the distinction can be a bit blurry. I remember reading a study from Pakistan some time ago where a disproportionate number of injuries in the Pakistani army were to the left foot.
I never understood how you can shoot your self “cleaning a gun” What step is looking down the barrel, and pulling the trigger? I believe 90% are suicides and murders. The rest are Darwin’s finest.
The manual of arms for Glocks require that the trigger be pulled as part of disassembly for cleaning. I've heard it said that this is why Glocks are a poor choice for a first firearm.
There have been a number of people who shot themselves because they 'thought' they'd unloaded it when they removed the magazine but never cleared the chamber. Then they pulled the trigger and it was pointed at some part of themselves...
God knows how many holes in floors and walls from that.
I had one AD/ND early on when I started carrying. But I made sure I was I'm a safe place where a screw-up would be contained.
I was alone in my basement and thought I'd cleared the weapon. My basement is well below ground, and all the walls are cement block, so there was no risk to anyone.
My AC air return duct will never forgive me though.
Sad, yes. But as far as accidental? Maybe. I can think of a couple of scenarios. 1. She was complaining about him cleaning his gun in the house again and he finally had enough. 2. He was intoxicated and wasn't paying attention to his gun handling. 3.Just flat out violated 2 of the major rules of gun handling. No such thing as an accidental discharge, only negligent discharges.
I like to think I’m a fucking ninja because in 63 years of fucking around with guns, I’ve never had an accidental discharge. I still follow all the “rules” so I should be fine. I hope. I am getting older and am starting to forget the strangest things. If I think for one moment I’m getting dangerous, I’ll pass everything off to the boys except what I need for self defense in my home. Hope that day finds me already dead. Eod1sg Ret
treat every gun as if it loaded. that ignorant glock comment shows your mindset all to publicly. because dam near every DA revolver ever made lacks and external safety. keep your fucking finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. and as a side bar the Glock 19 is used by the JSOC guys when the need to concealed carry. and yes the 1911 is a fine weapon and the 92 well its ok if you don't shoot a lot it can break slides at high round count. another note is G.I. anything is made by the lowest bidder, so the military makes due with the shit they get.. So at the end of the day be safe first. then get your hard on over what gun to use. Mike H (45 years of shooting and training, 0 negligent discharges.)
Anon 8:29/ Mike H With a DA revolver the cylinder cranes out, so completely empty ammo supply. Your Plastic Fantastic requires you to pull the trigger to disassemble it.
He slammed the Gock because it REQUIRES you to pull the trigger to disassamble the gun. Only gun I have ever seen that requires that and that"s why so many people negligently discharge them because they all believe that if you pull the magazine the gun is now magically safe to handle - stupidly. You know what Gaston Glock did all his life before he went into weapons design? He made curtain rods......... YOU on the other hand show how dumb you are with your comments. Revolvers don't have safeties because you do not carry one around cocked. A Glock is cocked all the time when there is a round in the chamber. Brilliant Gaston......
Anon: Paul B's Glock comment wasn't ignorant. It has nothing to do with the absence of a safety. You have to pull the trigger to remove the slide. This has resulted in quite a few AD/NDs over the years.
Needing to pull the trigger to strip a Glock is not a big deal. Ensure it’s clear, just like you do with ANY OTHER FIREARM before you take it apart. Point it in a safe direction and press the trigger, just like you do with ANY OTHER FIREARM when you dry-fire it.
anon 8:29, you are wrong about the 92. Mine has well over 10,000 rds and no problems ever. I know 2 other people that can say the same thing. It is my favorite 9mm.
No matter how many times people are told about making sure their gun is unloaded before cleaning or working on it, human error cannot be removed completely no matter how we may try. It says that police are still investigating, as the first thought that came to my mind was murder/suicide, but there must be a reason that the police initially called it an accident. Hopefully not just a cleaning kit on the kitchen table and maybe another gun already cleaned. I know that if I accidently killed my spouse, I would be heartbroken and while I might want to die, actually killing myself, no matter how much I would wish to is something that I don't think that I could do. I hope that the police prove the story is truthful, and it was an accident/suicide. It still is horrible, but not as much as an intentional act.
Another article stated that he was a firearms safety instructor. https://nypost.com/2023/07/21/firearm-safety-instructor-accidentally-shoots-wife-dead-then-turns-gun-on-himself/
My first thought is a "Best way out" scenario. Between a crashing economy and major medical issues, I've seen it before. Happens far more than you know, unless you work EMS.
Lifelong habit of mine anytime a gun is in my hand is to open the action and check first that the chamber is empty. Even before I get the cleaning stuff out, or other stuff if I'm working on it.
If he was a firearm instructor, then I wonder if they've had some bad news, or if things had just reached a point. An instructor would know enough to lay out his cleaning gear to set the stage for the investigators, so to speak.
Oh, please. who cleans a loaded gun? who cleans a gun with their finger on the trigger? if he didn't stage it himself, the cops are lying so the kids/grandkids won't have to think he murdered his wife. Whattaya gonna do?
Anon @ 2124: I've shot a hell of a lot. Still do when I find the time. I'VE NEVER HAD AN AD/ND!! Closest thing was on the range @ Ft. L. Wood, Mo., 1977. M16 did a double while set @ semi. Drill sergeant was all over me in a second, WE rolled the rifle left side up, yep, still set in semi. Drill Sergeant Singley, he said, 'they will do that'. I'm 65 this year. Perhaps you have had one, or maybe more? Perhaps YOU are the flawed piece of this puzzle. Trying to catch up, Ken! Blessed you are, for all you do.
Story sounds like BS. Cleaning a gun and it discharged and killed his wife. Okay. Was she sitting across the table? Or maybe sitting in the next recliner. Either a combination of major stupidity and bad luck, or a murder/suicide.
ReplyDeletex2
DeleteI'm a forensic pathologist. Truly accidental fatal gunshot wounds from "cleaning a gun" are rare, but can happen if the decedent drops the gun before unloading or something like that. When we look at this, it's important to correlate the story with the gunshot wound direction. An injury from dropping the weapon will not be a contact wound, for instance. A lot of "accidental" wounds are not, except in children where the distinction can be a bit blurry. I remember reading a study from Pakistan some time ago where a disproportionate number of injuries in the Pakistani army were to the left foot.
DeleteI never understood how you can shoot your self “cleaning a gun”
ReplyDeleteWhat step is looking down the barrel, and pulling the trigger?
I believe 90% are suicides and murders.
The rest are Darwin’s finest.
The manual of arms for Glocks require that the trigger be pulled as part of disassembly for cleaning. I've heard it said that this is why Glocks are a poor choice for a first firearm.
DeleteThere have been a number of people who shot themselves because they 'thought' they'd unloaded it when they removed the magazine but never cleared the chamber. Then they pulled the trigger and it was pointed at some part of themselves...
DeleteGod knows how many holes in floors and walls from that.
I had one AD/ND early on when I started carrying. But I made sure I was I'm a safe place where a screw-up would be contained.
ReplyDeleteI was alone in my basement and thought I'd cleared the weapon. My basement is well below ground, and all the walls are cement block, so there was no risk to anyone.
My AC air return duct will never forgive me though.
Sad, yes. But as far as accidental? Maybe. I can think of a couple of scenarios. 1. She was complaining about him cleaning his gun in the house again and he finally had enough. 2. He was intoxicated and wasn't paying attention to his gun handling. 3.Just flat out violated 2 of the major rules of gun handling. No such thing as an accidental discharge, only negligent discharges.
ReplyDeleteI like to think I’m a fucking ninja because in 63 years of fucking around with guns, I’ve never had an accidental discharge. I still follow all the “rules” so I should be fine. I hope. I am getting older and am starting to forget the strangest things. If I think for one moment I’m getting dangerous, I’ll pass everything off to the boys except what I need for self defense in my home. Hope that day finds me already dead. Eod1sg Ret
ReplyDeleteNever had an AD?
DeleteWell, you obviously have never shot very much…,
10 to one it was a Glock. Damn Tupperware pistols anyway. Use a 1911 or a beretta 92. Good enough for GIs good enough for me.
ReplyDeletetreat every gun as if it loaded. that ignorant glock comment shows your mindset all to publicly. because dam near every DA revolver ever made lacks and external safety. keep your fucking finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. and as a side bar the Glock 19 is used by the JSOC guys when the need to concealed carry. and yes the 1911 is a fine weapon and the 92 well its ok if you don't shoot a lot it can break slides at high round count. another note is G.I. anything is made by the lowest bidder, so the military makes due with the shit they get.. So at the end of the day be safe first. then get your hard on over what gun to use.
DeleteMike H (45 years of shooting and training, 0 negligent discharges.)
Anon 8:29/ Mike H
DeleteWith a DA revolver the cylinder cranes out, so completely empty ammo supply.
Your Plastic Fantastic requires you to pull the trigger to disassemble it.
He slammed the Gock because it REQUIRES you to pull the trigger to disassamble the gun. Only gun I have ever seen that requires that and that"s why so many people negligently discharge them because they all believe that if you pull the magazine the gun is now magically safe to handle - stupidly. You know what Gaston Glock did all his life before he went into weapons design? He made curtain rods......... YOU on the other hand show how dumb you are with your comments. Revolvers don't have safeties because you do not carry one around cocked. A Glock is cocked all the time when there is a round in the chamber. Brilliant Gaston......
DeleteAnon: Paul B's Glock comment wasn't ignorant. It has nothing to do with the absence of a safety. You have to pull the trigger to remove the slide. This has resulted in quite a few AD/NDs over the years.
DeleteNeeding to pull the trigger to strip a Glock is not a big deal.
DeleteEnsure it’s clear, just like you do with ANY OTHER FIREARM before you take it apart.
Point it in a safe direction and press the trigger, just like you do with ANY OTHER FIREARM when you dry-fire it.
anon 8:29, you are wrong about the 92. Mine has well over 10,000 rds and no problems ever. I know 2 other people that can say the same thing. It is my favorite 9mm.
DeleteHe was "cleaning it and it went off?"
ReplyDeleteGimme a fuckin break.
IRS whistleblower?
ReplyDeleteCC
Clinton business associate...
DeleteEd
No matter how many times people are told about making sure their gun is unloaded before cleaning or working on it, human error cannot be removed completely no matter how we may try. It says that police are still investigating, as the first thought that came to my mind was murder/suicide, but there must be a reason that the police initially called it an accident. Hopefully not just a cleaning kit on the kitchen table and maybe another gun already cleaned.
ReplyDeleteI know that if I accidently killed my spouse, I would be heartbroken and while I might want to die, actually killing myself, no matter how much I would wish to is something that I don't think that I could do. I hope that the police prove the story is truthful, and it was an accident/suicide. It still is horrible, but not as much as an intentional act.
Another article stated that he was a firearms safety instructor.
ReplyDeletehttps://nypost.com/2023/07/21/firearm-safety-instructor-accidentally-shoots-wife-dead-then-turns-gun-on-himself/
My first thought is a "Best way out" scenario. Between a crashing economy and major medical issues, I've seen it before. Happens far more than you know, unless you work EMS.
ReplyDeleteBs story….
ReplyDeleteLifelong habit of mine anytime a gun is in my hand is to open the action and check first that the chamber is empty. Even before I get the cleaning stuff out, or other stuff if I'm working on it.
ReplyDeleteIf he was a firearm instructor, then I wonder if they've had some bad news, or if things had just reached a point. An instructor would know enough to lay out his cleaning gear to set the stage for the investigators, so to speak.
Yeah, right....cleaning his gun when it accidentally went off and killed his wife.BS! No such thing as an accidental discharge.
ReplyDeleteCareless discharge. Not likely he was cleaning it.
DeleteOh, please. who cleans a loaded gun? who cleans a gun with their finger on the trigger? if he didn't stage it himself, the cops are lying so the kids/grandkids won't have to think he murdered his wife. Whattaya gonna do?
ReplyDeleteI know you're all disappointed this wasn't that Baldwin idiot.
ReplyDelete- WDS
Anon @ 2124: I've shot a hell of a lot. Still do when I find the time. I'VE NEVER HAD AN AD/ND!! Closest thing was on the range @ Ft. L. Wood, Mo., 1977. M16 did a double while set @ semi. Drill sergeant was all over me in a second, WE rolled the rifle left side up, yep, still set in semi. Drill Sergeant Singley, he said, 'they will do that'. I'm 65 this year. Perhaps you have had one, or maybe more? Perhaps YOU are the flawed piece of this puzzle.
ReplyDeleteTrying to catch up, Ken! Blessed you are, for all you do.
Fjb