RALEIGH, N.C. (WPMI) - Five people were injured Saturday in 3 shootings at gun shows across the country. In Wake County, North Carolina, people nearly ran over each other while evacuating the Dixie Gun and Knife show after a shotgun went off inside.
"People were just walking so quickly you could tell they were starting to panic a little bit," one witness said.
Minutes before the commotion, Gary Wilson brought his gun inside the building to have it inspected by law enforcement. Planning to sell the weapon, Wilson opened the case for inspection, and the gun went off.
"When I turned around, I heard the gun hit the table and when I heard the gun hit the table, I heard the shot went off," Emory Lewis said, "The guy that was standing right in front of me, it went through his hand and then I heard a lady hollering and it went through her side somewhere."
A 54-year-old woman was hit in her chest, a 50-year-old man, who is also a retired deputy along with a 54-year-old man were shot in the hand. It's unclear if Wilson will face any charges but fairgrounds safety officials said what was clear was the shot was fired before any law enforcement had the opportunity to inspect the gun.
"The weapon discharged before any of our employees had ever taken possession or touched the firearm or had the opportunity to make it safe," North Carolina Department of Agriculture Police Chief Joel Keith said.
A routine sale at a gun show in Ohio also had a scary moment when a buyer pulled the trigger and shot the person next to him. The gun's magazine had been removed, but there was still one round in the chamber. The bullet hit the dealer's partner in the arm and leg.
The man was expected to be okay.
A 54-year-old man accidentally shot himself in the hand during a gun show at the Indianapolis Fairgrounds. Officials said the man was reloading his gun in the parking lot when it went off.
"You know there's all kinds of people and some people shouldn't own guns," one attendee said, "In the case where if you can't load it properly and you shoot your finger off, maybe you shouldn't own a gun, but for those of us who are responsible, take training, know how to shoot the gun, have knowledge on it, those are the people that should be able to own the guns and purchase guns."
The man injured was listed in stable condition at the hospital.
