An 86-year-old Festus man's hand was cut by his own gun when it accidentally discharged while he attempted to enter his apartment. The incident occurred about 2:20 p.m. Oct. 29 in the Oak Knoll Apartments off YMCA Drive, Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis said.
Lewis said the injury was caused by a part of the weapon slicing into the victim’s hand, not from the bullet fired from the gun.
“We responded to a call of a shooting,” Lewis said. “He had his keys and his gun in his hand. He put the key in the door and somehow the gun went off. The bullet hit his doorknob. It went in the doorknob. That bullet is dead center in that doorknob.
“We think the slide of the gun cut his hand. He bled pretty good. It was his left hand.”
The man was alone, Lewis said. He did not release the man’s name.
The victim was taken by the Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District to Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City for treatment, Lewis said.
He said the man will not face any charges over the incident.