[thackney]

Must have been carrying a Model 52 Smith & Wesson.

Or a Bersa Thunder...
Or a Ruger LCP...
Or a Taurus 738 TCP...
Or a Walther PK380...
Or a Sig Sauer P238...
Or a ....

[I cannot think of a name]

Actually, those are all .380s which fire a rimless cartridge designed for semi and full automatic weapons (9mm short).

The .38 cartridge is designed for revolvers and has a rim. The only semi-automatic I am aware of that was ever designed to fire rimmed cartridges was the Smith Model 52, which was to shoot wadcutters in target competition.

And as I said, probably just crappy reporting.