Posted on 09/06/2011 7:46:20 AM PDT by Morgana
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A man was hospitalized after being seriously injured in a potato gun explosion.
Police said they received a report of a shooting in the 200 block of Alpha Avenue at about 4:15 p.m. Monday, where they found 53-year-old John Berthiaume II lying in the street.
Berthiaume suffered injuries to his right arm and leg when his homemade potato gun exploded, Louisville Metro Police spokesman Dwight Mitchell said.
The victim's brother, Tony, said it appeared that his brother put too much black powder into the device.
"I guess it stressed the metal out too much, and it blew up," he said.
Martha Dodd said the explosion sent shrapnel into her home across the street.
"I looked out the door and saw him sitting on the ground and I said, 'You just shot a hole in my house,'" Dodd said.
Berthiaume was taken to University of Louisville Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Mitchell said.
(Excerpt) Read more at wlky.com ...
bttt
What happened to hair spray as the propellant?
That was no potato gun.
It was a pipe bomb.
Metal ?
Black powder ?
“The victim’s brother, Tony, said it appeared that his brother put too much black powder into the device. “
_______________________________________________________
*facepalm* “Hold muh beer.”
Black Powder plus Metal does not a potato gun make! That’s an IED! Too bad the sucker wasn’t a Darwin award winner! That kind of dumb can be passed on!
A very poor way to test a cannon.
There, but for the grace of God, go I.
They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. They bring a potato gun, you bring a ... well, I guess you don’t have to bring anything at all.
*chuckle*
Industrial strength humor ping? not sure.
My successful spud guns were made with Schedule 40 PVC and powered by hair spray or propane when it was available.
BTTT because everybody else said what needs to be said.
http://www.whas11.com/home/Person-reportedly-shoots-part-of-arm-leg-off-with-potato-gun.html
“David Stump saw the entire incident. He said Berthiaume had come over to his house to show him the potato gun. Stump said Berthiaume was shooting off small pieces of potato down the street using gun powder, and then decided to use more gun powder to make it go farther.”.....
“Police say they do believe alcohol was a factor in the accident.”
I have been told by the police here in my hometown that potato guns with hairspray propellant cannot be fired as they are considered firearms.
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