One stolen handgun, one police traffic stop and one scared criminal attempting to hide the stolen handgun.

Who could possibly foresee a negligent discharge in such a situation?

On Friday, April 16, 2021, members of the Decatur Police Department pulled over a vehicle for a ‘routine’ traffic stop.

“As officers approached they heard a firearm discharge from inside the car,” said Decatur Police Detective Sgt. Steve Carroll.

“It appears he was trying to get rid of the gun and shove it down inside that little map holder pocket that is in the back of the front seats of every car. As he did that the gun went off and he shot himself.”

I hate that phrase.

“The gun went off…”

Guns don’t just ‘go off’ unless some fool pulls the trigger unintentionally, as happened here.

Luckily for the 26-year-old Decatur man, his injury was not life-threatening and, after a brief stop at the hospital to treat his gunshot wound, he was taken directly to jail.

Decatur Police booked the 26-year-old on charges of reckless discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a stolen firearm.

He remains in Macon County Jail on $25,000 bail.

As he should.