No charges expected after off-duty officer accidentally shoots girlfriend

[47of74]

One of Texas' finest.

A Texas police officer isn't expected to face charges after he accidentally shot his girlfriend, according to authorities.

23-year-old Rebekah Keefe of Huntsville was shot once in the back Saturday, and had to be flown to a Houston hospital.

"She is expected to live, which is good news. We have Texas Rangers in Houston investigating, speaking with the victim," said Trooper Erik Burse with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Troopers said the victim's boyfriend, William Weathersby, had been cleaning his personal 9mm handgun prior to it accidentally firing. Weathersby is a police officer at Sam Houston State University.

You would think police officers would be more careful with their weapons. You would think...

[yellowcanine]

1. I don't understand how a trained individual accidentally fires a gun while cleaning it.

How do you accidentally pull the trigger and why is it necessary to pull the trigger to clean it? And don't you make sure there is not a bullet in the chamber before cleaning the gun?

[gejohnston]

4. most cops are not as well trained as many people think

NYPD's training is about the same as or less than the average 14 year old gets for their first hunting license, which Wyoming requires.
To field strip some pistols, you have to pull the trigger. Anything made by Glock being among them. Yes, you should always make sure it is unloaded before doing anything.

[TexasProgresive]

2. A few good rules

It's always loaded, always know where it pointed, clear the weapon of ammo and still assume it's loaded.

It's not an accident, it's negligence.

But this never happens 'cause all gun owners are paragons of safety.

[Scuba]

3. Ooops. And a trained professional, no less.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. University cop. Are they trained like "real" cops?

(not that it's all that high a standard, these days)

edit to add:

Cleaning. Right.

[flamin lib]

5. Humm, I wonder if they had an argument and if alcohol was involved.

Seems to me a safe gun is a dirty gun . . .

[safeinOhio]

7. Training doesn't work

15 years ago I met an older guy, 70s I'd guess, at the flea market. He had a cast on his left hand, so I asked about it. Said he shot himself in the hand while cleaning his pistol.

Then he went on to tell me he has been a NRA safety instructor for 36 years.

[Straw Man]

13. Based on ...

Training doesn't work

15 years ago I met an older guy, 70s I'd guess, at the flea market. He had a cast on his left hand, so I asked about it. Said he shot himself in the hand while cleaning his pistol.

Then he went on to tell me he has been a NRA safety instructor for 36 years.

... sample size of one? Yeah, that's pretty conclusive ...

[safeinOhio]

14. Too bad the repubs have

Banned any $ for any studies. Thanks gun lobby. I'm sure you would want lots of studies and data.

[Straw Man]

15. Wrong again.

Too bad the repubs have

Banned any $ for any studies. Thanks gun lobby. I'm sure you would want lots of studies and data.

There never was a ban on funding of research -- only on funding of gun-control advocacy, which the CDC was admittedly doing. I refer to the linked thread and article below:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1172183263#

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2015/01/14/why-the-cdc-still-isnt-researching-gun-violence-despite-the-ban-being-lifted-two-years-ago/

[safeinOhio]

16. OK any studies on gun training and accidents?

There must be some cdc studies.

[Straw Man]

17. I don't know.

OK any studies on gun training and accidents?

There must be some cdc studies.

Were there ever?

[lastlib]

8. If only she'd had a gun............

why do so many gun-humpers get themselves or someone else injured or killed by the object of their desires? Is it the cuddling, the foreplay, or the actual humping that causes all the accidents?

[newfie11]

9. Why was he cleaning a loaded gun?

Safety first ( unload)!

[Big_Mike]

10. Most likely rather than looking at the butt of the weapon to inspect the chamber

He was looking her butt and overlooked the chamber of the weapon completely.

[newfie11]

12. Lol

[ManiacJoe]

11. He was not actually cleaning the gun.

You cannot clean a loaded gun. The bullets occupy all the dirty places.

The reporters allow the shooter to claim they were "cleaning the gun" so that no one has to actually say they were negligently playing with the gun and pulled the trigger when they did not want to do so.