2 injured when Washington man accidentally fires rifle at Idaho gun show

GARDEN CITY, Idaho (AP) — Officials say two men were injured at an Idaho gun show after a vendor from Washington state accidentally fired a rifle.


Ada County Sheriff's officials say a 74-year-old man was securing a rifle with a plastic zip tie Saturday morning when the weapon fired. The bullet reportedly went through a cardboard box, two table covers and a metal cane before striking a man holding the cane as well as a man standing nearby. Both were hit in the leg.

The men were taken to a hospital with what police believed were non-life threatening injuries.

Officials say the shooting happened before the show opened and it went on as scheduled.

The Idaho Statesman reports (http://goo.gl/3SEgVI ) the vendor has cooperated in the ongoing investigation. So far he hasn't been cited.

The Statesman said the 74-year-old gun vendor from Washington told investigators he was securing a Savage Arms B Mag .17-caliber bolt-action rifle with a plastic zip tie when the weapon discharged. There was a shell in the rifle and he mistakenly fired it, according to Ada County Sheriff’s spokesman Patrick Orr.