During handgun sale, 19-year-old wounded in apparent accidental shooting

Update | 3:35 p.m.

What allegedly began as a late night handgun sale ended with a 19-year-old suffering a gunshot wound in downtown Juneau.

According to a Juneau Police Department news release, the 19-year-old was at the Wharf building on Monday night to meet a 22-year-old man to buy a handgun.

The two men, whom police did not name, were examining the loaded weapon when it went off, the statement said.

At about 11:18 p.m., a 911 caller reported a “bang” and a man lying on the floor screaming. Officers found the man in significant pain with a gunshot wound to his leg.

“The bullet wound was in the right thigh of the 19-year-old,” Juneau police spokesman Lt. David Campbell said. “It was right in meaty part of the thigh. (It was) a fairly significant bullet wound. It wasn’t like a grazing shot or anything like that.”

The victim was treated on the scene by Capital City Fire/Rescue and taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital.

Campbell had read the police report, but it was in a draft format, so not all details were immediately available.

Police interviewed everyone involved and located the handgun, but the details about the firearm were limited.

“We are not releasing the type of gun  at this point in time just because we are dealing with recommendations from the district attorney’s office,” Campbell said. “The only thing we can say is it was a semi-automatic handgun.”

If the department arrests them or files charges, the department would release their names.

“Saying what charges are going to apply and how we’re going to go forward at this point in time it’s too premature to say, but there are several that just on the surface look like they would apply in this case,” Campbell said.

Those charges include potential weapons misconduct, assault and reckless endangerment. Campbell said it’s up to the officer, the detective and the district attorney to determine what charges apply.

He also said the incident could have been prevented had both parties observed basic handgun safety protocol.

“There are handgun safety rules that if they would have been followed, this situation could have been avoided,” Campbell said. “And I don’t know what kind of training these two men might have had in handling firearms, but standard safety practices would definitely have avoided this situation.”

Police believe alcohol was a factor, but Campbell couldn’t say whether that meant the victim, the 22-year-old or both.

No other injuries were reported and the investigation is ongoing.


Original story | 11: 16 a.m.

What allegedly began as a late night handgun sale ended with a 19-year-old suffering a gunshot wound in downtown Juneau.

According to a Juneau Police Department news release, the 19-year-old was at the Wharf Building on Monday night to meet another man to buy a handgun.

The two men, whom police did not identify, were examining the loaded weapon when it went off, the statement said.

At about 11:18 p.m., a 911 caller reported a “bang” and a man lying on the floor screaming. Police officers found the man in significant pain with an apparent gunshot wound to his leg. He was treated on the scene by Capital City Fire/Rescue and taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital.

No other injuries were reported. Police believe alcohol was a factor. The investigation is ongoing.

Sign up for The Signal

Top Alaska stories delivered to your inbox every week

Site notifications
Update notification options
Subscribe to notifications