The customer was shot in the upper back, but finds himself in stable condition

Nov 22, 2012 13:40 GMT  ·  By
An attendant in a small New Mexico shop was unloading a .45-caliber handgun when he shot a customer
   An attendant in a small New Mexico shop was unloading a .45-caliber handgun when he shot a customer

People who don't believe in gun control may be stunned by an incident in Silver City, New Mexico. A customer at a gun shop in the town of 10,000 was shot right in the store, by an attendant.

Police reports dub the Tuesday, November 20 event an accident, as the employee was unloading a .45-caliber handgun when he shot a customer in the back.

A 65-year-old man, whose identity hasn't been released by officials at this point, was browsing through the merchandise when he was wounded.

The store that sells guns, ammunition, bows and archery supplies is listed as a tourist attraction in the small town.

A helicopter was called in at the Hudson Street store, to transport the victim to the nearest hospital. It landed in front of the Chevron station on Hudson and took off at approximately 10:40 a.m., local newspaper Silver City Sun News reported. The man was flown to El Paso, Texas for medical assistance.

He was examined and treated for an upper back injury, and is currently in stable condition. Police reported the Copper Country Sporting Arms accident, however prosecutors are to decide whether or not the man will face legal consequences.

“We don’t expect foul play at this point. [...] The employee has not been charged at this point. I don’t know whether he still has his job,” Police Capt. Steve Reese tells the LA Times.

This is the first time an incident of this nature takes place in the town.

“In my 34 years of police work, I have never seen anyone shot in a gun store. [...] It does not happen every day, that’s for sure,” Reese comments.