Three Men Injured after Accidental Shooting at Gun Show
By: Jacob Long, Kim Behrens
Updated: February 27, 2011
BLOOMINGTON - Authorities are investigating an accidental shooting at a gun and knife show that injured three people.
It happened Saturday around 11:15 a.m. at the Sale Barn off South Main St. in Bloomington.
A customer was reportedly handling a loaded weapon at a vendor booth. One round was discharged.
A bullet went through a man's chest and struck another man.
One of them was taken to OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington and the other was taken to Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal.
Their conditions are not known at this time.
A third man was injured when he hit the ground after hearing the gunfire.
He refused treatment at the scene.
One vendor says she was less than than 10 feet away from the booth, and saw the action unfold.
"I thought it was a firecracker at first. It didn’t even register with me," said Debi Ohl. "I don't sell firearms so it didn't register with me that it was a gun. And I was like what in the world was that?"
Debi isn't the only person with questions.
There are strict rules banning loaded weapons at gun shows.
“We're going be looking at those rules, maybe possible vendor violations on why that weapon was loaded, what led up to the shooting,” said McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery.
As authorities work to figure out what went wrong, customers hope the situation doesn't ban future shows.
Bradd Keeran's been visiting gun shows for 22 years and says anything can happen.
"Anytime you have bullets and guns together some idiot can load it. Hopefully it doesn't happen anymore," said Keeran.
The McLean County Sheriff's Department says this is the first time in the show's history someone's been shot.
According to McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery, "The Sale Barn and other areas in Bloomington-Normal have hosted this show probably for the last 25 or 30 years. I've been on 30 years myself, and this is the first situation that I can recall where we've had such an incident with a loaded weapon."
Those close enough to see the action are thankful they're safe.
"If it (the gun) would have been turned around the other way it would have been us, so we're very thankful we're safe," said Ohl.
Authorities are interviewing witnesses and the customer who fired the gun.
Sheriff Mike Emery says he has no information to show at this time that this was anything other than an accident.
