Accidental shooting investigated

Officers called to investigate an accidental shooting Tuesday afternoon didn’t have to look far to find the shooter. He was at the other end of the victim’s arm.

Chief of Police Rick Baker said Wednesday that his department was called at about 5 p.m. Tuesday to respond to an accidental self-inflicted gunshot. A 68-year-old male reportedly accidentally shot himself in the hand while preparing to clean a pistol.

The incident happened in the 900 block of Ste. Genevieve Avenue. The investigating officer learned the man had been readying to clean his 9 mm Ruger semi-automatic pistol when he accidentally fired a round still in the chamber, the bullet striking his own left hand.

The chief said the bullet passed completely through the man’s hand but did not hit anyone else.

An ambulance and Air Evac were contacted. The air ambulance sat down at the nearby Sports Complex and picked up the victim. He was flown to Mercy Hospital in St. Louis for treatment.