Fla. Deputy Shoots Self Showing Off Gun

AP ^ | 9/30/06 | n/a

[kiriath_jearim]

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- A sheriff's deputy showing a handgun to friends at his birthday party accidentally shot himself in the face, killing himself, authorities said Saturday.

Matt Barnes, 26, told guests at the Friday night celebration his .45-caliber revolver was not loaded, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office. He pulled the trigger around 10:30 p.m., authorities said, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Barnes, who had been a deputy for two years, was off duty at the time of the accident. The sheriff's office said alcohol was believed to have been involved.

Barnes' fiancee witnessed the shooting, authorities said.

"It is a tragic, tragic story," Sheriff David Shoar told The St. Augustine Record for Sunday's edition. "He was there with seven or eight friends. Sometime during the evening, he picked up the handgun and was showing it around when it accidentally discharged, killing him."

The shooting remained under investigation.

Grief counselors were helping deputies cope with the loss, Shoar said.

[COEXERJ145]

This is a clear case of "hold my beer!"

[proudofthesouth]

Darwin Award!

[CWOJackson]

Hold muh beer...look at this.

[admiralsn]

Sad... and stupid, all at the same time.

[appleharvey]

Barney Fife lives! (or dies).

[DCBryan1]

"told guests his .45-caliber revolver was not loaded",

"The sheriff's office said alcohol was believed to have been involved."

Darwin nominee. Dumbass! A revolver is the easiest thing to check and see if its loaded:
Just open the cylinder, extract bullets, count bullets and hope they add up to the number of holes...of course you can just look for daylight down the empty holes...p)

[trumandogz]

The sheriff's office said alcohol was believed to have been involved.

Thank you Sgt. Friday.

[trumandogz]

I would imagine that one the party guests saw the drunk cop pull out his .45 that most of them left the house.

[RichInOC]

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- A sheriff's deputy showing a handgun to friends at his birthday party accidentally shot himself in the face, killing himself, authorities said Saturday.

Matt Barnes, 26, told guests at the Friday night celebration his .45-caliber revolver was not loaded, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office. He pulled the trigger around 10:30 p.m., authorities said, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Just a thought, but (assuming you were stupid enough to point a .45 revolver at your face in the first place) wouldn't you be able to tell from that view whether or not there were bullets in the cylinder?

[Shooter 2.5]

Suicide by cop.

[eastforker]

Yes but it would also be the perfect suicide/accidental killing also.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

I had to reread that part but I did read it right. He did say REVOLVER! WTF?

I am at a loss for the level of stupidity that this person has/had.

[Jaysun]

Talk about your party poopers.

[4yearlurker]

If I checked my gun 50 times in a row to make sure it wasn't loaded I would still NEVER point it at myself or anyone and pull the trigger. What a stooopid move!

[Mr. Brightside]

when it accidentally discharged

Guns don't accidentally discharge.

People accidentally discharge them, as was the case here.

[Mr. Brightside]

And as I read the story closer, the reporter makes my point...

He pulled the trigger ... when it accidentally discharged.

[festus]

Thats was what I was thinking. Most insurance has a double indemnity for accidental death..........

[Fatuncle]

There is no such thing as an unloaded weapon. There are loaded weapons, and field stripped weapons. If it ain't in pieces, it will kill you.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

His corpse should be charged with reckless endangerment. If convicted, the corpse should be jailed for the amount of time called for by law. That would definitely discourage others from ending up in jail (especially for similar incidents). We need to learn something from this and it would make a great example. The liberals would be soooo happy. They've just about ruined the rest of our lives already, anyway. And, when one speaks out against them, one is shunned, ridiculed, has posts deleted, etc., etc. ad nauseum.

I personally believe so many people are on the edge of their seats ready to do something about it that the authorities will be surprised when people finally do act. Liberals, "Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin" to all of you.