OOPS! Tombstone actor shot when live rounds fired during gunfight

[Ptah]

Dylan Smith TucsonSentinel.com

A member of a group of Old West re-enactors was wounded Sunday afternoon when another actor fired a bullet from a pistol that held live rounds. Ken Curtis of the Tombstone Vigilantes was shot, a woman was struck by another bullet, and other bullet fragments hit nearby buildings, authorities said.

Curtis and a woman identified as Debbie Mitchell were shot when another actor, Tom Carter, fired his revolver during a street skit involving a gunfight in the 400 block of Allen Street in Tombstone, said Bob Randall, the city marshal.

"Curtis fell to the ground after being struck by a live round" around 1:45 p.m., Randall said in a news release.

"The Vigilantes immediately stopped the show and Tom Curtis was relieved of his weapon. During inspection of his weapon, it was discovered that there was one live round in the cylinder with five expended casings indicating the gun had held six live rounds prior to the skit," Randall said.

http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/101815_tombstone/tombstone-actor-shot-when-live-rounds-fired-during-gunfight/

[2naSalit]

1. Wonder how THAT happened. nt

[Kablooie]

2. That's been done many times in murder mysteries.

Put live rounds in where there should be blanks and one actor kills another but someone else is the murderer.

[msongs]

3. gun owners cannot be trusted when they are in possession of their guns nt

[newfie11]

4. Same thing happens here in Hill City, SD

Several people shot but it was hushed up quickly.

[TexasProgresive]

5. Once again forgeting the basic safety rules

Don't aim at what you don't want to shoot.
All guns are loaded.
ETC. ETC.
Here's my additional rule: Do not use weapons able to fire real ammo, use specially made replica prop guns.

http://www.collectorsarmoury.com/Shop-Blank-Guns/departments/3/
These authentic Blank Guns are an ideal resource for training, theatrical props, and re-enactment purposes. Many of these pieces are the same prop guns used by filmmakers in Hollywood and the world over. Collector's Armoury has supplied blank guns and non-firing replica prop guns for scores of your favorite Hollywood Hits, such as The Body Guard, Dances with Wolves, Open Range, Lethal Weapon, True Lies, Die Hard, The Untouchables, Silverado, and many more. The single, double, or semi-automatic action of these blank guns works just like the famous originals we have faithfully reproduced. Our blank guns are made of machine metal construction and are proof-tested. We carry a full compliment of blank ammo for these guns and those you may already have in your collection or prop room.

Our blank firing guns cannot be made to fire real ammunition and will only fire blank ammunition. No license is required. Please refer to the blank gun safety guidelines prior to use. You must be 18 years of age to purchase and 21 years of age to sign for these products.

[Hoppy]

6. Shit! They shot Festus? Now they've gone too far. Wait 'till Matt catches up with 'em.

[Ptah]

12. Yup. Poor Festus, we hardly knew you.

Curtis was a singer before moving into acting[4] and combined both careers once he entered films, performing with the popular Sons of the Pioneers from 1949 to 1953 as well as singing with the Tommy Dorsey band. Curtis replaced Frank Sinatra as vocalist for the Dorsey band. He was with the Dorsey band in 1941, prior to Sinatra's departure,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Curtis#Early_years

[Hoppy]

13. I knew about the Sons of the Pioneers, one of my favorites. I didn't know about Dorsey connection.

[Kali]

7. Tombstone - the Town too...erm...Stupid to Live???

even more Wild West than it pretends to be!

hope everybody is OK (heh) but the irony of grownups playing dress-up cowboy and actually getting shot is kind of delicious.

[Ptah]

8. A performer that can't shoot straight.

He fired five shots!

[Kali]

9. my favorite is the intercoms in the stage coaches

for that AUTHENTIC old west experience

yes I actually rode in one. with some German "tourists"

[Ptah]

10. I think the town is a hoot!

pew pew pew

Tombstone gunfight re-enactor could face charges

TOMBSTONE, Ariz. — The shooting of an actor with a real bullet during a historical re-enactment show in Tombstone could result in criminal charges, the Tombstone Marshal's Office said.

The shooting happened Sunday afternoon as two performers from the Tombstone Vigilantes group re-enacted a gunfight in the 19th century mining town made famous by Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and the O.K. Corral. A bystander also was hurt but declined medical treatment.

One of the actor's guns fired live rounds, hitting a fellow member of the group, the Tombstone Marshal's Office said. Ken Curtis fell to the ground and was flown to a hospital in Tucson, where he underwent surgery to remove the bullet.

The marshal's office said Monday the shooting is being classified as an aggravated assault based on the recklessness and serious injury involved. No arrests have been made and the report will be forwarded to the Cochise County Attorney's Office for review.

http://tucson.com/news/local/tombstone-gunfight-re-enactor-could-face-charges/article_44a2fdbc-7610-11e5-a68b-2b5c4c529948.html

[Kali]

11. I vacillate between humor and embarrassment.