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Man taken to hospital in critical condition after accidental shooting following firearms training

Posted at 3:46 PM, Apr 18, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-18 17:46:42-04

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – A man was taken to a hospital in critical condition Saturday morning after an accidental shooting that occurred when a group of security guards were cleaning their weapons after training.

Officers responded to 859 West South Jordan Parkway just before 9 a.m., and a 24-year-old male who was shot in the abdomen was taken to Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition. The man was later listed to be in stable condition, and, “is expected to survive”, according to the press release from the South Jordan Police Department.

Police stated that a group of security guards were at a business that houses a firearms training facility, and they had gathered there after conducting firearms training at another facility. As they prepared to clean their weapons, one of the security guards failed to verify his gun was clear, and the weapon discharged. The male victim was struck in the abdomen.

Master Officer Samuel Winkler urged people to remember to double-check themselves when handling firearms.

“This appears to be a tragic accident,” he stated in the press release. “It’s also a reminder that firearms needed to be treated as if they are always loaded and to use a double-check system when handling firearms for transport and cleaning. You can never be too careful when it comes to firearms safety.”

The identities of those involved have not been released, and there was no mention in the press release of citations or charges in connection with the accidental shooting.