Man shoots himself while showing off gun on MU campus

COLUMBIA - A man shot himself in the leg on MU's campus Tuesday while showing off a gun.

MU police said officers found Michael Stout with a gunshot wound after a shots fired report.

Maj. Brian Weimer said Stout came to campus to demonstrate a smoothie machine, and while he was in his car, showed his gun to a friend and accidentally fired a round into his left leg.

MU Alert sent out a shots fired message at 3:30 p.m.

Six minutes later, MU Alert posted more information on its website, revealing the incident happened when a gun accidentally discharged near the loading dock of Plaza 900, a dining hall on Virgina Avenue.

At 3:38 p.m., MU Alert sent out another update saying the situation had been stabilized and that the scene was clear.

Weimer said Stout, who is not a university employee or student, was transported to University Hospital for medical attention. University Hospital said Stout was scheduled to be released Tuesday night.

It is against MU policy to have a gun on university property, except during regularly approved programs or by "university agents or employees in the line of duty."

(Editor's Note: KOMU.com has updated this story to include more information from MUPD and on Stout's condition.)