A Glasgow Police Officer is suing a Barren County gun store for handing him a loaded gun that he “accidentally” triggered. The gun shot a live round and blew off part of the officer’s finger in the process.
A humiliated and injured police officer, identified as Darrell Smith, accidentally shot a loaded gun that was handed to him for perusal at the gun store, which he is now suing. Though the video shows Smith in uniform, multiple sources indicate the man is a former employee of the police force . Smith’s attorney, Alan Simpson, confirmed the incident caused him to lose his job as a police officer, and the suit is to make up for income he’s lost.
According to a civil lawsuit filed on Friday, former Glasgow police officer Darrell Smith went into Barren Outdoors back in March of last year and asked to see a.380 caliber handgun that was displayed just below the glass. The attendant, who appears to be a middle-aged man, dutifully removed the gun from the display and handed it to him. Smith continued to inspect the gun and at one point cocked it.
As Smith continued checking out the gun, he appears to be talking with the attendant. Meanwhile, the cocked gun sits dangerously in the police officer’s hand. What’s bizarre is that Smith puts up his index finger against a cocked gun. The gun, which shouldn’t be loaded, unfortunately is, and as Murphy’s law goes, it fires.
The live bullet tears into the index finger that was held against the barrel and takes a part of it. The injured ex-Glasgow police officer is now suing the gun store. The lawsuit claims the Barren Outdoors employee didn’t do a safety check on the gun. As per standard procedure, a gun store has to always ensure that none of the guns that are meant to be sold or kept merely for display should be loaded. Moreover, law stipulates that guns, cartridges, and bullets must be stored separately at all times. But unfortunately, it wasn’t the case, and therefore Smith is suing the gun store for negligence.
Speaking about his client and the case, Smith’s attorney, Alan Simpson, said the incident caused him to lose his job as a police officer, and the suit is to make up for income he’s lost.
“He’s permanently disfigured. He went through a lot of pain and suffering. He’s gone through several surgeries. He’s got a lot of medical bills that have to be paid. It ended his career and he’s going to have a lot of lost income.”
Though the incident is highly unfortunate and the Glasgow police officer lost his job, the video is a reminder never to play with firearms under any circumstances. Fortunately, no other patrons in the gun store were injured.
[Image Credit | Video Screen Grab]
