A family night at a St. Paul school took a hazardous turn when a parent accidentally discharged his firearm, shooting himself in the leg while playing basketball. The incident, which occurred inside a's gym at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, prompted an immediate police response.
The man, a 30-year-old parent of a student at the school, was reportedly carrying the gun unholstered on his person when it went off. The resulting injury was non-life-threatening, but the episode could have taken a dramatically darker turn had the bullet found another target. Police arrested the man on suspicion of possession of a dangerous weapon on school property and reckless discharge of a firearm, reported TwinCities Pioneer Press.
As Marty Wick, a veteran in carry permit classes, implied in a statement obtained by CBS News Minnesota, control is the cornerstone of firearm safety. "I think just as a gun safety matter, he needs to have a gun under control, and he apparently didn't," said Wick, who instructs on the critical nature of handling a weapon with vigilance.
The school district's crisis team, including counselors and social workers, was made available to support students and staff rattled by the close call. Erica Wacker, a spokesperson for the St. Paul Public Schools, emphasized the district's policy: "We want to remind everyone that firearms are not allowed on any St. Paul Public Schools property," she said in a statement.
The wounded parent is facing a potential felony charge—an offense that can carry a punishment of up to five years in prison.
