Doesn't Make Sense to Me

Man Fatally Shoots Self While Cleaning Gun

St. Petersburg police say 50-year-old Wilfredo LaFontaine was on the phone with his girlfriend Wednesday as they were preparing to move out of their apartment. The girlfriend was in the leasing office of Tamarind Bay Apartments to return their keys when she heard a stumble and a pop over the phone.

She was returning the keys so obviously they had already moved out, the apartment must have been empty and they were probably going through and making sure nothing is left behind. I've moved out of a few apartments in my time and turning in the keys is just about the last thing you do. So the man decided that was the time to start cleaning his gun? Really? Not very likely. Were there any cleaning supplies out? A table where he could work?

Police say the girlfriend and a leasing agent rushed back to the apartment, where they found LaFontaine slumped against the door with a gunshot wound to his chest. He was still alive when officers and paramedics arrived. Police say he indicated that he had been preparing to clean his revolver.

I'm sorry but the story just doesn't add up. Why would he have the gun in his hand at all? The gun cleaning story makes no sense. Possibly he was holding it with his finger on the trigger and he tripped but I also think that is unlikely as the gun would most likely have been pointing away from him. It is an awkward position for your hand to be holding a pistol and pointing it at your chest. I don't even understand why he would have had the gun in his hand in the first place, I wish there were more detail in the story. The gun should have been in a holster. He was either being very, very stupid (it happens) or it was a suicide.

Treat every gun as if it were loaded.

Always point the muzzle in a safe direction; never point a firearm at anyone or anything you don't want to shoot.

Keep your finger off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.

You must follow the simple safety rules of gun handling every time. A table saw or a band saw is very dangerous if you don't follow the safety rules. So is a car. So is plugging in your appliance.