Initial reports said the gun discharged while the officer was drawing it. New reports say he was running and his gun went off. A quote on the news said it was a secondary weapon. No idea the method of carry or how it was holstered.MARLIN, Texas (KWTX) A local officer who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg was injured when his weapon discharged as he ran to assist with an arrest, not as he was drawing the gun as initially reported, Marlin police Chief Damien Eaglin said Monday.
“The weapon that discharged while it was on his person (and) was never drawn out,” he said.
The wounded officer, whose name was not released, was recovering at home Monday after he was wounded during a large gathering Sunday night at Martin Luther King, Jr., Park in Marlin.
Eaglin said the officer was running to assist him with the arrest of a suspect wanted after shots were fired the night before in the park when the weapon discharged.
After the officer’s gun discharged, things took a turn at the park.
Take-aways for me based on very incomplete information, yours may vary: There are times when the four big rules need particular respect. A holstered gun may not be pointing at any part of my body, but I remain cognizant of the damage muzzle blast can do. I try not to sit in any way that puts my feet downwind of my muzzle. A holster should enshroud the trigger, protect any manual safety device, and have enough purchase on the gun I could ignore it when running. And, of course, even though my handgun is not an obsession I never ignore anything that has anything to do with the safe carry of a firearm.
I wish they would release more information about the holster and method of carry so we can all learn. Best wishes for the officer's quick recovery.