Student Mistaken for Target Shot by Another Student at Gunsite Academy

[RamboLiberal]

A 50-year-old man was mistaken for a target and accidentally shot during an exercise at a firearm-training facility in northern Arizona, authorities said.

The Florida man was training with three of his colleagues Sunday at the Gunsite Academy in Paulden, which is about 30 miles north of Prescott, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

The man was standing on a catwalk as his colleague fired at targets. The colleague saw the black silhouette of the man and fired, shooting the man in the abdomen, officials said.

Instructors administered first aid before he was flown to a local hospital for treatment and surgery. On Thursday, he was listed in good condition.

Trainees had been told not to shoot in the area of the catwalk. No charges were expected against the shooter.

Buz Mills is the owner of the facility and candidate for governor. "We are relieved this client is in good condition thanks to the swift actions of our staff at Gunsite and the dedicated paramedics at the Central Yavapai Fire District," Mills said. Mike Scerbo, press secretary for Buzz Mills, said Mills has owned Gunsite Academy since 1999.



Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/05/06/20100506man-shot-at-arizona-gun-training-abrk0506.html#ixzz0nPPzNWOD

Shoot House

[aikoaiko]

1. I'm very curious about the details that led to this shooting.

I wonder what the instructions are to shooters before going in the shoot house. I have to believe they tell them not to shoot anything above the ceiling line.

The action in those shoot houses can be fast and furious.

[benEzra]

2. Here are some more details, from the sheriff's department:

http://www.co.yavapai.az.us/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=56208

May 6, 2010

Man Unintentionally Shot during Training Exercise
at Gunsite Academy

***

On May 02, 2010, at approximately 10:15 A.M., Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office
deputies were dispatched to the Gunsite Academy in Paulden, Arizona, to assist
Central Yavapai Fire Department (CYFD) with a shooting victim. Deputies learned that
a 50-year-old Florida man had been unintentionally shot during a routine training
exercise.

The training course, which began earlier in the week, involved the victim and three of
his colleagues. The prior evening, this group went through night shoot training and
was then provided instructions for the next days training scenarios. The Sunday training
included a live fire course involving various shoot/don’t shoot scenarios.

On Sunday, the victim had just completed his indoor shooting scenario and was
standing on a “catwalk” above the training area to observe his colleague. The next
student entered the room and fired two rounds into a target. As the student prepared to
engage the next target, he noticed a black silhouette in his field of view and fired a
round. The silhouette was actually his colleague who was watching the training
exercises from the “cat walk.” The “catwalk” area is designated by a red line and
students are told not to engage anything above the line. The round struck the man in
the abdomen. The round was a frangible bullet type used to avoid ricochets.

Gunsite instructors began first aid and notified CYFD, who in turn, contacted YCSO.
The victim was eventually transported by helicopter to John C. Lincoln Hospital for
treatment and surgery. His current condition is listed as good. No charges are expected
against the student.

Gunsite has fully cooperated with YCSO during the investigation. Gunsite Operations
Manager Ed Head said, “This is the first accident of this nature in Gunsite's 34 years of
business.”

[aikoaiko]

3. Jeff Cooper would be unhappy that his happened at his old place.

Thanks for the links.

Jeff Cooper's four rules (I know you know these BE, but they can't be repeated enough).

1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

Even if the shooter did see a silhouette, how would he know whether it was shoot or no-shoot?

Silly accident that could have been much worse.

[gorfle]

4. I guess the guy failed his "shoot/don't shoot exercise"

I guess the guy failed his "shoot/don't shoot" exercise!

In my opinion this was a dangerous set-up. I would never be on a shooting range where I was downrange (in front of) the plane of a firing line.

If they want to observe shooters in this shoot house then they should either install ballistic glass shields around the catwalk or, better yet, remote-monitor from above with video cameras.

[aikoaiko]

5. I bet they put up transparent material or cameras as you said.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. Unhappy my ass.

He'd lose a boot in the guy's rectum