Mansfield police officer shot by own gun accidentally
A Mansfield police officer's gun accidentally discharged Friday while he was outside checking on a report of two people seen inside a vacant house on Lind Avenue Friday morning.
Mansfield police Officer Charles Hamilton, is at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg, according to Mansfield assistant police Chief Jason Bammann.
Bammann said at about 10:06 AM, officers responded to 96 Lind Ave. for a possible burglary in progress. Hamilton was approaching the scene on foot when he drew his service weapon. At this time his weapon discharged subsequently striking him in his right leg.
Bamman said his weapon was a 9 mm sig 320.
Officers Shane Gess, Cameron Sheperd, and Eric Buchanan all administered first aid at the scene before Mansfield Fire and EMS arrived. Hamilton was transported to Ohio Health’s Emergency Department and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Hamilton has been a member of the Mansfield Police Department since 2013.
Sarah Lawhorn, who lives on Lind Avenue, said she saw the officer face down on the ground outside a vacant house.
"That's what I heard him say he shot himself in the leg," she said.
"The blood is still in the yard," Lawhorn said. "It did kind of scare me with all the shootings going on."
Lawhorn said he was moaning and a man came over to him an asked if he was OK and he told the person he accidentally shot himself in the leg.
She said police were on the scene immediately.
A man and woman at the scene said they were inspecting the vacant house. Police gave them the OK to leave.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
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Twitter: @LWhitmir
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Officer OK after accidentally shooting self in leg with his own gun
