Thrift Store Worker Killed After Gun Hidden In Sock Accidentally Goes Off

Carmen Dominguez, a thrift store worker in Chicago, died after a gun hidden inside a sock accidentally shot her in the chest.

The 54-year-old had worked at the donation store entitled Unique Thrift, which is located in the 9300 block of South Ashland Avenue, for over twenty years. She was sorting through garments when the devastating tragedy took place.

Dominguez was working alongside another colleague when the gun fired. The unidentified male employee later told officers that the incident occurred after he found the sock with a mysterious object inside. As he emptied its contents into his hand it became apparent that the device inside was actually a.22 caliber handgun, which then went off and shot into Dominguez’s chest.

A spokesman for the Chicago Police Department, Michael Sullivan, confirmed that the incident took place at 9:42 a.m last Friday. Sullivan remarked, “Preliminary investigation reveals it was an accidental discharge of firearm,” before he then described it as “a tragic, accidental incident.”

She was then taken to Christ Hospital, but she unfortunately succumbed to her injuries a few hours later. Dominguez had worked at the thrift store for over 25 years and she had even won several awards for her efforts in the establishment.

Dominguez is survived by her husband, Victor Campos, as well as her two children, who are aged 30 and 17. A clearly emotional Campos remarked, “I don’t know what to tell her. How do you tell your daughter that she doesn’t have a mother anymore?”

However, Campos remained philosophical despite the ordeal, and he even had the wherewithal to state, “Conditions are hazardous, sometimes they throw stuff without intention to each other and they get hurt.” Campos also added that he hopes this tragic accident will help lead to better working environments for those in the trade.

Barbara Paradise, a regular customer to the store, also told reporters, “So sad, so sad. It breaks my heart. That’s why I came back, because I knew her.”

Unique Thrift closed for business on Friday, but had reopened by Saturday. Meanwhile, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration have now started to conduct their own investigation into the ordeal.

Unique Thrift store released their own statement on Dominguez’s death that read, “We are extremely saddened about the tragic accident in our Ashland store that resulted in the passing of one of our valued team members. Our thoughts and hearts are with her family and friends during this very sad and difficult time.”

[Image via trekandshoot/Shutterstock]